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Avangi Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Conditional or not?

Hi,

(a) If quick-drying paint is used, you will have to blah blah blah.

(b) If quick-drying paint were to be used, you would have to blah blah blah.

I have no doubt that (b) is "more conditional" than (a), but may we say that (a) is "conditional" at all?

Thanks, - A.
  

Top answer

Avangi Hi, (a) If quick-drying paint is used, you will have to blah blah blah. (b) If quick-drying paint were to be used, you would have to blah blah blah. I have no doubt that (b) is "more conditional" than (a), but may we say that (a) is "conditional" at all?

— Anonymous

  • Avangi Hi, (a) If quick-drying paint is used, you will have to blah blah blah.
  • (b) If quick-drying paint were to be used, you would have to blah blah blah.
  • I have no doubt that (b) is "more conditional" than (a), but may we say that (a) is "conditional" at all?
  • Thanks, - A.
  • Hi, The (a) is a conditional: it has a clause of condition 'If quick-drying paint is used' and the consequent obligation expressed in the main clause.
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2 Answers
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AvangiHi,

(a) If quick-drying paint is used, you will have to blah blah blah.

(b) If quick-drying paint were to be used, you would have to blah blah blah.

I have no doubt that (b) is "more conditional" than (a), but may we say that (a) is "conditional" at all?

Thanks, - A.
Hi,

The (a) is a conditional: it has a cla
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Thanks, Anon. That's my feeling too.

Lately I've been hearing things like "(a) is real and (b) is unreal."

I tend to think that "conditional," "hypothetical," and "unreal" all mean about the same thing, but I may be missing a fine point here.

Regards, - A.
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