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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

If and conditional...

I learned at school, that you should never ever use if and could/would in the same half-sentence:

If I WERE you, I would to this and that.
If he is ill, he should stay at home.

But what about:

I wanted to ask if you would mind sending me a letter.

That sentence is wierd, isn"t it? How can I say this politely and correctly?
  

Top answer

The rule you've learned is not correct. If you could go anywhere, where would you go? I would help you move on Saturday if I could, but I'm going to be out of town.

— BarbaraPA

  • The rule you've learned is not correct.
  • If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
  • I would help you move on Saturday if I could, but I'm going to be out of town.
  • Both of these have "if" and "could" and are quite correct.
  • The "If you would" construction is simply one of politeness.
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3 Answers
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The rule you've learned is not correct.

If you could go anywhere, where would you go?
I would help you move on Saturday if I could, but I'm going to be out of town.
Both of these have "if" and "could" and are quite correct.

The "If you would" construction is simply one of politeness.

If you would please refer to page 13 on the report.
I wonder
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I wanted to ask if you would mind sending me a letter. (ok; it's a polite request)
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Anonymousyou should never ever use if and could/would in the same half-sentence
That rule doesn't apply to indirect questions, as in certain expressions like "ask if you would", "ask if you could", "tell me if you would", "tell me if you could". In these cases the if clause is an indirect question, not a true condition, because if can be replace
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