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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Second conditional pattern with both present and past tenses allowed
Hi,
I asked this question in one of the threads:
... Please tell me the difference.
1. ... that he would be good for the job if they decide to hire a person.
2. ... that he would be good for the job if they decided to hire a person.
And to this, I think CalifJim said the difference is slight.
Are these all conditionals in the sense a result is based upon a condition being met? I think like ones above, these sets in differing verbs in the if-clauses can go together without much difference.
1. It would be nice if he brings cake for today's meeting.
It would be nice if he brought cake for today's meeting.
2. I would choose him if they ask me to.
I would choose him if they asked me to.
3. I would like to start a school club if the adminstration of the school ask me the question on that.
I would like to start a school club if the administration of the school asked me the question on that.
But these conditionals wouldn't be good for sets like ones directly above.
4. I would go on a trip if I had a two week off.
5. He would pay back the money he owed if he had money.
Now, my question is, "Why nos 1 to 3 can accommodate both present and past tenses in the if-clauses, whereas nos. 4 and 5 can't if it is true?"
I asked this question in one of the threads:
... Please tell me the difference.
1. ... that he would be good for the job if they decide to hire a person.
2. ... that he would be good for the job if they decided to hire a person.
And to this, I think CalifJim said the difference is slight.
Are these all conditionals in the sense a result is based upon a condition being met? I think like ones above, these sets in differing verbs in the if-clauses can go together without much difference.
1. It would be nice if he brings cake for today's meeting.
It would be nice if he brought cake for today's meeting.
2. I would choose him if they ask me to.
I would choose him if they asked me to.
3. I would like to start a school club if the adminstration of the school ask me the question on that.
I would like to start a school club if the administration of the school asked me the question on that.
But these conditionals wouldn't be good for sets like ones directly above.
4. I would go on a trip if I had a two week off.
5. He would pay back the money he owed if he had money.
Now, my question is, "Why nos 1 to 3 can accommodate both present and past tenses in the if-clauses, whereas nos. 4 and 5 can't if it is true?"
Top answer
Anonymous Why nos 1 to 3 can accommodate both present and past tenses in the if-clauses, whereas nos. " You're on the right track. In English the speaker tends to mark his recognition of causality between the clauses by using if (past) , ...
- Anonymous Why nos 1 to 3 can accommodate both present and past tenses in the if-clauses, whereas nos.
- " You're on the right track.
- In English the speaker tends to mark his recognition of causality between the clauses by using if (past) , ...
- would ...
- (or if (present), ...
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1 Answers
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AnonymousWhy nos 1 to 3 can accommodate both present and past tenses in the if-clauses, whereas nos. 4 and 5 can't if it is true?"You're on the right track.
In English the speaker tends to mark his recognition of causality between the clauses by using if (past), ... would .... (or if (present), ... will ... if the situation i
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