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New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

If your son is/was alive

A: I think my son is still alive.
reporter: If your son is/was alive, why do you think he's not coming back?

1. Is the above correct?
2. Should I make it unreal hyphothetical tense?
Thanks.
  

Top answer

Hi, I would use the present tense in the if-clause and write the question like this. A: I think my son is still alive. reporter: If your son is alive, why do you think he's not coming back?

— Anonymous

  • Hi, I would use the present tense in the if-clause and write the question like this.
  • A: I think my son is still alive.
  • reporter: If your son is alive, why do you think he's not coming back?
  • Or you could make it unreal like this.
  • If your son were alive, what would be the reason he hasn't come back?
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5 Answers
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Hi,

I would use the present tense in the if-clause and write the question like this.

A: I think my son is still alive.
reporter: If your son is alive, why do you think he's not coming back?

Or you could make it unreal like this.
If your son were alive, what would be the reason he hasn't come back?
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AnonymousOr you could make it unreal like this.
Which is more appropriate? Could you give me a reason why you prefer the present tense?
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New2grammarIf your son is/was alive, why do you think he's not coming back?
... your son is ... do you think ...
Or If your son was alive, why did you think he wasn't coming back?
I don't see a need to make it unreal. The fact that the main clause is a question makes this patt
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Hi,

What conditional is this?

Your sentence:

Or If your son was alive, why did you think he wasn't coming back?


Is this the same as this in terms of making conditional type differentials? Thus, the above can be said to be a backward type 1 (general or usual habit statement) conditional like "If he gets paid, he deposits the mon
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