If

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Teachers,If they don't want to suffer, it would be in their best interests to do as Paul says. Is this right - do we need will or would? Also I am assuming this isn't conditional. If so, what do we call if statements which aren't conditional?tia

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

An if clause introduces a condition. It has to be a conditional.

The sentence is correct as it stands. would be is used instead of is to weaken the advice.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thank you, Mr. CalifJim. I have one doubt, though. If they didn't ... would be. If they don't ... will be/is.

I thought that's how it worked.

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousThank you, Mr. CalifJim. I have one doubt, though. If they didn't ... would be. If they don't ... will be/is.I thought that's how it worked.

Oh, yes, that's definitely how it works, but there are exceptional cases like this one. Here the expected "is" is weakened by substituting "would" in a situation where advice is given. It makes the advice seem less like a command -- makes it more polite.

This:

If they don't want to suffer, it would be in their best interests to do as Paul says.

is a more indirect way of saying this:
If they don't want to suffer, they should do as Paul says.

or this:
If they don't want to suffer, they will do as Paul says.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks again, Mr. CJ. Put simply, it works that way with if statements because they introduce a condition; normal statements don't require this.

If

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