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"I would make it impossible to make being a "politician" a career."Does this sentence have implicit if clause?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

AnonymousDoes this sentence have implicit if clause?

It probably has about 50 of them. Can't you think of even one?

If _______, I would make it ....

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousDoes this sentence have implicit if clause?It probably has about 50 of them. Can't you think of even one?If _____, I would make it ....CJ

Correct. My uestiok is when you say this sentence to people, do you have to mention an if clause? Like:

Jack: I would make it impossible to make being a "politician" a career."
Alex: Ok.

In this conversation, how does Alex understand the sentence?

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymouswhen you say this sentence to people, do you have to mention an if clause?

No. You can use just the 'would' clause and leave out the 'if' clause.

AnonymousJack: I would make it impossible to make being a "politician" a career."Alex: Ok. In this conversation, how does Alex understand the sentence?

Alex doesn't seem to understand the sentence very well because "OK" isn't a very good reply. Here is a better one:

Jack: I would make it impossible ...
Alex: How would you do that?

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim Anonymouswhen you say this sentence to people, do you have to mention an if clause?No. You can use just the 'would' clause and leave out the 'if' clause.AnonymousJack: I would make it impossible to make being a "politician" a career."Alex: Ok. In this conversation, how does Alex understand the sentence?Alex doesn't seem to understand the sentence very well because "OK" isn't a very good reply. Here is a better one:Jack: I would make it impossible ...Alex: How would you do that?CJ

You mean Alex already understands the sentence is imagination because it's impossible for Jack to do so, right?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousYou mean Alex already understands the sentence is imagination because it's impossible for Jack to do so, right?

Not exactly. Alex already understands the sentence is about imaginary things because Jack used "would" and because Jack probably can't do what he would like to do. Alex follows along with Jack, keeping the conversation in the world of the imagination.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim Anonymouswhen you say this sentence to people, do you have to mention an if clause?No. You can use just the 'would' clause and leave out the 'if' clause.AnonymousJack: I would make it impossible to make being a "politician" a career."Alex: Ok. In this conversation, how does Alex understand the sentence?Alex doesn't seem to understand the sentence very well because "OK" isn't a very good reply. Here is a better one:Jack: I would make it impossible ...Alex: How would you do that?CJ

Sorry to keep bothering you. Here is a situation.(Assuming the election is not over yet.)
Mac: Hillary would win.
Raj: How?

Here in Jack sentence, he has to mention if clause. Otherwise, the sentence will be incomplete, right?

Alex: I would make it impossible .....
Jack: How ...?

In Mac's sentence, we need to mention if clause but not in Alex's sentence. Why is that? Is it because we already know it's imagination so we don't need if clause?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousMac: Hillary would win.Raj: How?Here in Jack sentence, he has to mention if clause. Otherwise, the sentence will be incomplete, right?

I think you mean Mac's sentence, but yes, it would help a great deal to see the if-clause in this case because Mac has stated some theoretical result about which there is no obvious condition.

AnonymousIn Mac's sentence, we need to mention if clause but not in Alex's sentence. Why is that? Is it because we already know it's imagination so we don't need if clause?

Why is that? The most obvious reason is that Jack is talking about himself, his own feelings and opinions. He is saying what he would do and we assume "if he could". Mac is not talking about himself; he's talking about an election and about "Hillary". This leads us to another point. Jack has control over his own actions and doing what he wants to do would require his action. Mac has no control over the election. Besides, winning an election is an event that happens; it's not something Mac does through his actions.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousMac: Hillary would win.Raj: How?Here in Jack sentence, he has to mention if clause. Otherwise, the sentence will be incomplete, right?I think you mean Mac's sentence, but yes, it would help a great deal to see the if-clause in this case because Mac has stated some theoretical result about which there is no obvious condition.AnonymousIn Mac's sentence, we need to mention if clause but not in Alex's sentence. Why is that? Is it because we already know it's imagination so we don't need if clause?Why is that? The most obvious reason is that Jack is talking about himself, his own feelings and opinions. He is saying what he would do and we assume "if he could". Mac is not talking about himself; he's talking about an election and about "Hillary". This leads us to another point. Jack has control over his own actions and doing what he wants to do would require his action. Mac has no control over the election. Besides, winning an election is an event that happens; it's not something Mac does through his actions.CJ

Thank you so much. I have one more thing to say, not all the posts about would on this forum is mine lol. People think any post with would is mine. ????

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousnot all the posts about "would" on this forum is are mine

I know. "would" is a popular topic. You should spend some time away from "would", however, and practice subject-verb agreement (See the correction in red).

CJ

Fivejedjon · Answer

Anonymous People think any post with would is mine

One of the drawbacks of posting anonymously.

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