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Marcos054 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
A conditional tense question
'If yesterday was Wednesday, then tomorrow is Friday.'
Is this sentence grammatically correct? Is it possible to use 'is' instead of 'was'? And how would you explain the grammatical aspect of this sentence. For example, in the Zero Conditional, we use the present simple form for both the 'If clause and the Main clause?
Is this sentence grammatically correct? Is it possible to use 'is' instead of 'was'? And how would you explain the grammatical aspect of this sentence. For example, in the Zero Conditional, we use the present simple form for both the 'If clause and the Main clause?
Top answer
Hi, marcos, Welcome to EF I say it's correct. If you knew that yesterday were in fact not Wednesday, then it would be a different condition: If yesterday were Wednesday, then tomorrow would be Friday. Hopefully, others will elaborate on this.
- Hi, marcos, Welcome to EF I say it's correct.
- If you knew that yesterday were in fact not Wednesday, then it would be a different condition: If yesterday were Wednesday, then tomorrow would be Friday.
- Hopefully, others will elaborate on this.
- If I understand your meaning about zero conditional, "if yesterday" has to be a special case.
- "If yesterday is Wednesday" is absurd.
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23 Answers
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Hi, marcos, Welcome to EF
I say it's correct.
If you knew that yesterday were in fact not Wednesday, then it would be a different condition: If yesterday were Wednesday, then tomorrow would be Friday.
Hopefully, others will elaborate on this. If I understand your meaning about zero conditional, "if yesterday" has to be a special case
I say it's correct.
If you knew that yesterday were in fact not Wednesday, then it would be a different condition: If yesterday were Wednesday, then tomorrow would be Friday.
Hopefully, others will elaborate on this. If I understand your meaning about zero conditional, "if yesterday" has to be a special case
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marcos054'If yesterday was Wednesday, then tomorrow is Friday.'Welcome to English Forums! Yes, the sentence is grammatically correct.
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
I would leave it exactly as it is.
Don't get hung up on the "named" conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third. You can make conditional sentences with all sorts of
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CalifJimmarcos054'If yesterday was Wednesday, then tomorrow is Friday.'Welcome to English Forums! Yes, the sentence is grammatically correct.
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
I would leave it exactly as it is.
Don't get hung up on the "named" conditionals: Zero, First, Second, Third. You can make condit
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Is there a standard definition of "mixed conditional"? Or is it just any conditional other than the "named conditionals"?
It seems to me that different grammarians may define the term "mixed conditional" differently from others. What definition are you using?
CJ
It seems to me that different grammarians may define the term "mixed conditional" differently from others. What definition are you using?
CJ
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CalifJimIs there a standard definition of "mixed conditional"? Or is it just any conditional other than the "named conditionals"?
It seems to me that different grammarians may define the term "mixed conditional" differently from others. What definition are you using?
CJ
I've seen some sentences from another website showing mi
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marcos054'If yesterday was Wednesday, then tomorrow is Friday.'Hi marcos054
I would equate the sentence in your first post with a so-called "zero conditional". You can think of it this way:
'If it is true that yesterday was Wednesday, then it is true that tomorrow is Friday.
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Is that "cheating"? 
If it is true that it rained, it is true that I would take an umbrella.
If it is true that it had
If it is true that it rained, it is true that I would take an umbrella.
If it is true that it had
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CalifJimAren't all conditionals 'zero conditionals' by this tactic?I wouldn't say so. Let's test it:
Today is Sunday.
If yesterday had been Wednesday, then today would be Thursday.
If it were true that yesterday was Wednesday, then today would be Thursday.
If today is Sunday, then yesterday was Saturday.
I suppose it needs t
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1. If you do X, Y will happen.
2. If X was the case, Y is the case.
I would say that the "numbered" conditionals relate to statements of the #1 kind, where the second clause expresses the consequence of the first clause, but not of the #2 kind, where the second clause expresses an inference from the first clause.
(The "if" in #2 is very close in meaning to "since" or "because
2. If X was the case, Y is the case.
I would say that the "numbered" conditionals relate to statements of the #1 kind, where the second clause expresses the consequence of the first clause, but not of the #2 kind, where the second clause expresses an inference from the first clause.
(The "if" in #2 is very close in meaning to "since" or "because
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MrPedantic (The "if" in #2 is very close in meaning to "since" or "because".)Hi, MrP,
From a pedantic point of view, If I were to write, "Since yesterday was Wednesday, then tomorrow will be Friday," may I [still] say that my sentence expresses "a conditional"?
I must add that your post relieves much of the discomfort I felt about this issue.
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