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Zygis Posted 15 years ago
Grammar

Conditional sentence

Hi, I wanna ask ask a question about one sentence:

If he or she............not do this efficiently, the broadcast could be a disaster.

I think the right answer is - 'did', because this sentence seems to me like a type 2 conditional, but the answer is - 'does'

Don't we use the word 'could' just in the Type 2 and 3 conditionals?

Thanks.
  

Top answer

Both 'did' and 'does' fit into that sentence. You can have mixed conditionals, in which each clause refers to a different time.

— Mister Micawber

  • Both 'did' and 'does' fit into that sentence.
  • You can have mixed conditionals, in which each clause refers to a different time.
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5 Answers
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Both 'did' and 'does' fit into that sentence. You can have mixed conditionals, in which each clause refers to a different time.
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Sorry that it took me so long to ask again, but now, as I think I've learned conditionals pretty well, I have more question to go. To my knowledge, we can only mix the type 2 with the type 3. If I'd used 'does' here, the sentence would be a mix between Type 1 and 2 conditionals, wouldn't it?

Thanks again.
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If he or she does not do this efficiently, the broadcast could be a disaster.

Yes, grammatically mixed.
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So, is it gramatically correct to mix sentences between type 1 and 2?
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Yes, or between any types, I suppose; it depends on the time and possibility of the action in each clause:

If I hadn't studied Spanish in high school 10 years ago, I wouldn't be able to travel to Mexico tomorrow.
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