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Rizan Malik Posted 6 years ago
Grammar

If/when you’re not careful, you could/can get into even worse trouble

1) If you’re not careful, you can get into even worse trouble.

2) If you’re not careful, you could get into even worse trouble.

What's the difference between 1) and 3), 2) and 4)?

3) You can get into even worse trouble when you're not careful.

4) You could get into even worse trouble when you're not careful.

  

Top answer

Rizan Malik difference between 1) and 3) It's simply the difference between the meanings of 'if' and 'when', but that difference is more or less neutralized in the given context. The 'if' version hints at a future about which one should be cautious; the 'when' version sounds more like advice based on past experience. The same relationship exists between 2) and 4).

  • Rizan Malik difference between 1) and 3) It's simply the difference between the meanings of 'if' and 'when', but that difference is more or less neutralized in the given context.
  • The 'if' version hints at a future about which one should be cautious; the 'when' version sounds more like advice based on past experience.
  • The same relationship exists between 2) and 4).
  • CJ
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1 Answers
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Rizan Malikdifference between 1) and 3)

It's simply the difference between the meanings of 'if' and 'when', but that difference is more or less neutralized in the given context.

The 'if' version hints at a future about which one should be cautious; the 'when' version sounds more like advice based on past experience.


The same relationship ex

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