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Teo Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
die/dead
If you steal my money, you __! (A) die (B) are dead.
Which is correct?
Which is correct?
Top answer
Both of them are said, especially in movies, though each seems to have a unique nuance. I don't know how to look at them grammatically-- if that is your question-- but 'you die' feels more directly suggestive of "I will personally kill you", where 'you are dead' has a more indirect tone, possibly meaning "you are dead to me", or "you are as good as dead".
- Both of them are said, especially in movies, though each seems to have a unique nuance.
- I don't know how to look at them grammatically-- if that is your question-- but 'you die' feels more directly suggestive of "I will personally kill you", where 'you are dead' has a more indirect tone, possibly meaning "you are dead to me", or "you are as good as dead".
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5 Answers
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Both of them are said, especially in movies, though each seems to have a unique nuance. I don't know how to look at them grammatically-- if that is your question-- but 'you die' feels more directly suggestive of "I will personally kill you", where 'you are dead' has a more indirect tone, possibly meaning "you are dead to me", or "you are
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I'd go for:
If you stole my money, you would be dead
or
If you stole my money, you would die
If you stole my money, you would be dead
or
If you stole my money, you would die
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YoHfI'd go for:This is a perfectly correct conditional sentence. It expresses a hypothetical situation. In the original, using present tenses, I believe it sounds like the threat is really there, or suspected.
If you stole my money, you would be dead
or
If you stole my money, you would die
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PhilipYou embarass me...
This is a perfectly correct conditional sentence.
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Yes; the "stole...would" form sounds less immediate than the original. It would give the impression of a rather nervous and halfhearted threat.
In British English, "you die!" would sound a little mannered: like an arch and over-literary 6th-former.
"You're dead!" seems more likely, over here; though "you – are – dead!" with emphasis on each word is also possible.
MrP
In British English, "you die!" would sound a little mannered: like an arch and over-literary 6th-former.
"You're dead!" seems more likely, over here; though "you – are – dead!" with emphasis on each word is also possible.
MrP
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