IF Conditional without "would"

Question

* There's no DVD (proving that I'm guilty). Even if there was, he knows that I'm innoncent.

* Even if his code broke, the NSA was sunk. (from an novel)

With these two conditionals, in the main clause "would" was not used. Teachers please explain to me why. I thought that in the main clause of an if conditional sentence "would" has to be used. Thanks!

Yankee · Accepted Answer

Hi Bamtori

Additional context would probably be helpful, but here are some thoughts about your sentences:

Bamtori* There's no DVD (proving that I'm guilty). Even if there was, he knows that I'm innoncent.

First of all, this sentence appears to be a direct quote. Secondly, the expression "even if" basically means the same thing as "whether or not", so in your first sentence the author is apparently looking at things this way:

- Whether or not there is a DVD (that seems to prove me guilty), he knows for a fact that I am innocent.

In other words, "he knows I am innocent" is stated as a fact. It was a fact before now, it is a fact now, and it will be a fact in the future. He knows I am innocent, no matter what.

Bamtori* Even if his code broke, the NSA was sunk. (from an novel)

Your second sentence appears to be narrative. If you take it out of the narrative past, and look at the way it would be said or written in a present situation, maybe it will be easier to understand:

- Even if his code breaks, the NSA is (already) sunk. / Whether or not his code breaks, the NSA is (already) sunk.

Again, "the NSA is sunk" is a simply fact that was not, is not, and will not be affected by a possible breaking of his code.

Avangi · Answer

These are not "if conditionals" in the strictest  sense, and need not follow the rule you mention.

CalifJim · Answer

BamtoriWith these two conditionals

These are not true conditionals because the conclusions do not depend on anything in the even if clause. even if can work very differently from if.

Consider: Does the first one mean anything like this?

If there were a DVD proving that I'm guilty, he would know that I'm innocent.

I don't think so. It's very doubtful that a DVD proving my guilt would lead someone to judge me innocent.

The real meaning is quite different:

Even if there was/were a DVD that proved me guilty, it would not matter, because he knows that I'm innocent (for other reasons).

You see, the "knows I'm innocent" clause isn't even part of the implied conditional.
_____

Without further context, I'd guess that the second example works the same way.

Even if his code broke, it would not matter, because the NSA was sunk anyway (for other reasons).
_____

This pattern is used when the facts in the even if clause are irrelevant to the conclusion because the conclusion is true independent of any of these facts.

Compare:

Even if they (had) showed up late with the check, I already had enough cash to pay for the meal.

CJ

IF Conditional without "would"

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