Confusion.
If World War III happens, millions of people will die.
vs.
If World War III happened, millions of people would die.
I know both sentences are correct but what’s the exact difference in meaning between them though? Thank you.
Top answer
anonymous difference in meaning The first one looks at the situation as real, probable, or imminent — something of immediate concern, a situation that may well need to be addressed with action soon. Be careful! There's a gas leak.
- anonymous difference in meaning The first one looks at the situation as real, probable, or imminent — something of immediate concern, a situation that may well need to be addressed with action soon.
- Be careful!
- There's a gas leak.
- If you light that match, the whole house will explode!
- The second one looks at the situation as hypothetical, imagined, envisioned — something interesting to speculate on while sitting at home in an armchair.
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anonymousdifference in meaning
The first one looks at the situation as real, probable, or imminent — something of immediate concern, a situation that may well need to be addressed with action soon.
Be careful! There's a gas leak. If you light that match, the whole house will explode!
The second one looks at the situation as hypothetical
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