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JesterLegacy Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

If conditional question

I just read a book and would like to write a review for the book. Should I say :

It will be better if it had answered those questions.

or

It will be better if it answers those questions.

I know that we use the present if clause only if it is still possible, so should I use the first option because the content of the book can no longer be changed? I used the second option at first because my review is in present tense....
  

Top answer

JesterLegacy I just read a book It would have been better if it had answered those questions. (past: at the time of writing or reading) It would be better if it answered those questions. (present: as the book stands now)

— Mister Micawber

  • JesterLegacy I just read a book It would have been better if it had answered those questions.
  • (past: at the time of writing or reading) It would be better if it answered those questions.
  • (present: as the book stands now)
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4 Answers
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JesterLegacyI just read a book
It would have been better if it had answered those questions. (past: at the time of writing or reading)
It would be better if it answered those questions. (present: as the book stands now)
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Mister Micawber JesterLegacyI just read a bookIt would have been better if it had answered those questions. (past: at the time of writing or reading)It would be better if it answered those questions. (present: as the book stands now)
But won't that not in accordance with the if rules? Because it is no longer possible to change the content of the book, so shoul
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JesterLegacyBut won't that not in accordance with the if rules?
No, they are fine. Don't confuse reality with grammatical possibility. You would be better now if you were an American. But you can't change your nativity, right?
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Mister Micawber JesterLegacyBut won't that not in accordance with the if rules?No, they are fine. Don't confuse reality with grammatical possibility. You would be better now if you were an American. But you can't change your nativity, right?
Ah, I see...thank you
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