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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Conditionals

Hello Teachers

I'm a little confused by this sentence I read today in the BBC website about David Cameron and the Panama papers scandal.

If I was going to become prime minister I didn't want anyone to say 'you have other agendas or vested interests'

What conditional is this? I'm confused by the use of 'going to' here and the use of 'was' in the 'if' part. Could someone explain this please?

Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

Anonymous If I was going to become prime minister I didn't want anyone to say... It's a backshifted first conditional. It's the "real" kind of conditional, not the "hypothetical" kind.

— CalifJim

  • Anonymous If I was going to become prime minister I didn't want anyone to say...
  • It's a backshifted first conditional.
  • It's the "real" kind of conditional, not the "hypothetical" kind.
  • If I am going to become prime minister, I don't want anyone to say ...
  • If I was going to become prime minister I didn't want anyone to say...
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4 Answers
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AnonymousIf I was going to become prime minister I didn't want anyone to say...
It's a backshifted first conditional. It's the "real" kind of conditional, not the "hypothetical" kind.

If I am going to become prime minister, I don't want anyone to say ...
If I was going to become prime minister I didn't want anyone to say...

CJ
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Thank you. Is 'will' possible here instead of 'going to'?
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AnonymousIs 'will' possible here instead of 'going to'?
No. We rarely use "will" or "would" in an if-clause.

CJ
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Ah yes! I just remembered! Thank you for your help.
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