If you missed the 6 o'clock train, you won't get here before 7.

Question

If you missed the 6 o'clock train, you won't get here before 7.Source: http://www.grammaring.com/conditionalsHello,The above blue sentence has been mentioned as a conditional sentence example in the above grammar learning link. But once a native English speaker told me that the above blue sentence is not a conditional sentence at all. I got surprised when he said that to me. What's your opinion? Do you agree with him? If it's not a conditional sentence, then why has it been used a conditional sentence example in the above link? It has [ if clause ], then it should be a conditional sentence. I don't know why the man told me that it's not a conditional sentence at all.What's your opinion? Any guidance? Now, is it a conditional or not?Thank you.

Fivejedjon · Accepted Answer

Well, it doesn't fall into the traditional conditional patterns and, give that if here means something like 'given that', I suppose it doesn't really contain a hypothetical condition. Does it really matter?

CalifJim · Answer

Definitions of "conditional sentence" may vary from one person to another.

Some people work like this: It's got an if-clause, so it must be a conditional sentence.
Others work like this: It doesn't follow the tense pattern of any of the numbered conditionals, so it's not a conditional sentence.

So it's a conditional sentence by one definition, and it's not a conditional sentence by another definition.

Actually, there's another way to look at it: The "if" in that sentence can be replaced by "since" or "as" or "because", so it doesn't really mean "if" in the way that conditional sentences should. Therefore, it's not really a conditional sentence.

I wouldn't worry about it. There are always people who make blanket claims without explaining why, including people who write textbooks.

CJ

cross-posted

Fivejedjon · Answer

I see you have asked the same question here: http://forum.thefreedictionary.com/topics9_English-Grammar.aspx. As I have told you before, it would be courteous to provide a link to the other forum(s) when you do that. We could then see what others have said before we possibly duplicate what has already been said elsewhere.

Sb70012 · Answer

I usually ask the same question in two different forums in order to compare the answers and pick the most clarified answer. Because even Native English speakers sometimes give different answers.

Fivejedjon · Answer

Fine, but why do you ignore repeated requests to provide a link so that people don't waste their time? If people are prepared to help you, don't you think it would be courteous to help them?

Sb70012 · Answer

Because I hadn't received any answers in Thefreedictionary forum then.

I had just received one short answer some weeks ago in WR Forum:
http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/if-you-missed-the-6-oclock-train-you-wont-get-here-before-7.3166447/

I have already said in post #1 that one native English speaker has said that it's not a conditional sentence.

So, I don't hide anything from you. I don't know why you keep asking me detective questions.

Fivejedjon · Answer

sb70012Because I hadn't received any answers in Thefreedictionary forum then.I had just received one short answer some weeks ago in WR Forum:

Provide the links in each forum to each forum so that we can all benefit from all the responses.

Incidentally, the person in the other forum did not say that it was not a conditional sentence. he said "I'm not sure that it's a conditional at all", which is not quite the same.

If you missed the 6 o'clock train, you won't get here before 7.

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