0
Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Conditional sentence.

«But without any weapon Matt was unsafe and vulnerable.»
1) «However, he realized that if it tried to kill him, no weapon on earth would save Matthew from this.»
2) «However, he realized that if it tries to kill him, no weapon on earth will save Matthew from this.»
Please, I pray for your help. Which one is correct? And what's the difference?
  

Top answer

Anonymous Which one is correct? Both are OK. First conditional: real or possible situations.

— AlpheccaStars

  • Anonymous Which one is correct?
  • Both are OK.
  • First conditional: real or possible situations.
  • If it tries to kill him, no weapon on earth will save Matthew from this.
  • Second conditional: Hypothetical, unreal situation.
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

9 Answers
0
AnonymousWhich one is correct?
Both are OK.

First conditional: real or possible situations.
If it tries to kill him, no weapon on earth will save Matthew from this.

Second conditional: Hypothetical, unreal situation.
If it tried to kill him, no weapon on earth would save Matthew from this.
0
0
Thank you.
Actually, I know it. But I didn't know that the first case is acceptable in a reading text. It has the proper sense that I implied.
0
0
I meant the first conditional and the second case, sorry.
0
0
Anonymous«But without any weapon Matt was unsafe and vulnerable.»1) «However, he realized that if it tried to kill him, no weapon on earth would save Matthew from this.»
This is the only combination that works for me. All past forms.

In the second one, I find the change from 'realized
0
0
I have the same thought. But I have to show character's feelings and thoughts at the moment of time. And I have to show that he is in a real danger.
0
0
Heavenly RavenBut I have to show character's feelings and thoughts at the moment of time.
Then do as most authors do, and write it all in the present tense.

But without any weapon Matt is unsafe and vulnerable. However, he realizes that if it tries to kill him, no weapon on earth will save Matthew from this.

CJ
0
0
It seems strange among sentenses in the past tense. Will I have to change them all if I want to use present tense?

Then the second conditional is more preferable I think.
0
0
Heavenly RavenIt seems strange among sentences in the past tense. Will I have to change them all if I want to use present tense?
It's your story, so you can do it however you like. Some authors are very clever about how they switch from one point of view to another (past to present; present to past). I'm not that clever, s
0
0
Okay. I'll use the second conditional. Losing a bit of sense won't be that bad for my text.

Thank you anyway, bro.
0

Related Questions