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Fayshiang Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Conditional
Hi,
I'm learning conditional sentences. I found in a forum these sentences which I believe is not right. So I corrected them. Do you agree with my corrections?
If the 10 largest U.S. airlines don't boost revenues and restructure loans, their cumulative cash could shrink 62 percent to about $8.6 billion by year's end, estimated Philip Baggaley, chief credit analyst at Standard & Poor's. (don't => didn't)
United, American and Northwest Airlines have all renegotiated covenants that would likely cause them to default on loans later this year if cash flows continue to decline. (continue => continued)
It could reduce flying further if fuel costs continue to rise, Mikells said. (continue => continued)
But that isn't nearly enough to cover the $23 billion jump in fuel costs that they face this year if oil stays at current levels, according to the Virginia-based market research firm. (isn't => won't be)
Thanks!
I'm learning conditional sentences. I found in a forum these sentences which I believe is not right. So I corrected them. Do you agree with my corrections?
If the 10 largest U.S. airlines don't boost revenues and restructure loans, their cumulative cash could shrink 62 percent to about $8.6 billion by year's end, estimated Philip Baggaley, chief credit analyst at Standard & Poor's. (don't => didn't)
United, American and Northwest Airlines have all renegotiated covenants that would likely cause them to default on loans later this year if cash flows continue to decline. (continue => continued)
It could reduce flying further if fuel costs continue to rise, Mikells said. (continue => continued)
But that isn't nearly enough to cover the $23 billion jump in fuel costs that they face this year if oil stays at current levels, according to the Virginia-based market research firm. (isn't => won't be)
Thanks!
Top answer
Hi, I think conditional structures are pretty flexible. There are more than just three of them, and it is sometimes difficult to classify them. In addition, tenses are often mixed up that way in speech or non-edited writing.
- Hi, I think conditional structures are pretty flexible.
- There are more than just three of them, and it is sometimes difficult to classify them.
- In addition, tenses are often mixed up that way in speech or non-edited writing.
- Also, "could" with present tenses doesn't bother me, or at least not as much as "would" in the same kinds of structures.
- That said, I'm not a native speaker, so you might want to wait for someone else.
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5 Answers
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Hi,
I think conditional structures are pretty flexible. There are more than just three of them, and it is sometimes difficult to classify them. In addition, tenses are often mixed up that way in speech or non-edited writing. Also, "could" with present tenses doesn't bother me, or at least not as much as "would" in the same kinds of structures.
That said, I'm not a native speaker, so
I think conditional structures are pretty flexible. There are more than just three of them, and it is sometimes difficult to classify them. In addition, tenses are often mixed up that way in speech or non-edited writing. Also, "could" with present tenses doesn't bother me, or at least not as much as "would" in the same kinds of structures.
That said, I'm not a native speaker, so
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FayshiangI'm learning conditional sentences.You may be learning the three most usual conditional patterns. There are many, many more than the typical three found in textbooks.
There is no need to change any of the sentences you showed as examples. They are fine just as they were originally written.
CJ
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Thank you! Would you suggest any books or online materials that give a detailed explanation of conditional sentences?
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Try Googling "conditional sentences"
Here's an interesting one: http://www.icsi.berkeley.edu/~kay/bcg/lec07.html
CJ
Here's an interesting one: http://www.icsi.berkeley.edu/~kay/bcg/lec07.html
CJ
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