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PreciousJones Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Conditionals

Are all sentences that include the word 'if' a conditional sentence or does depend on the context?

Thank you!
  

Top answer

PreciousJones Are all sentences that include the word 'if' a conditional sentence or does depend on the context? Opinions vary on this one. I don't think you'll find a definitive answer to the question.

— CalifJim

  • PreciousJones Are all sentences that include the word 'if' a conditional sentence or does depend on the context?
  • Opinions vary on this one.
  • I don't think you'll find a definitive answer to the question.
  • You can have just about any combination of tenses in an if statement and its consequent statement, but only a few have an official label (first, second, third conditionals).
  • Some people say that only the numbered conditionals should be called conditionals; others say that anything with an if or even any synonym of if (like supposing that ) are conditionals.
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5 Answers
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PreciousJonesAre all sentences that include the word 'if' a conditional sentence or does depend on the context?
Opinions vary on this one. I don't think you'll find a definitive answer to the question.

You can have just about any combination of tenses in an if statement and its consequent statement, but only a few have an official label (first
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Hi CalifJim,

Could you this a look at these:

I was thinking of going in the summer, but I'm not sure if it'll be safe.

I was thinking of going in the summer, but I'm not sure if it'd be safe.

Should I be consistent and stick to the same tenses? Is it absolutely necessary? Is the first sentence incorrect or not as grammatical?

Are they conditionals?
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You're thinking about something that you may do later, in the summer, so it's future. Both versions are equally grammatical.

1 sounds like you're pretty sure that you're going.
2 sounds like you're not so sure. You have some doubts.

CJ

By the way, now I understand more fully what you were asking in your first question.

These if-clauses are indirect
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CalifJimQuote
CalifJimQuote
So, I guess this wouldn't be categorized as a conditional?
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PreciousJonesSo, I guess this wouldn't be categorized as a conditional?
Probably not by most people. No.

CJ
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