A conditional sentence

Dear teachers,

I have a multiple-choice question as follows,

If we don't entertain our out-of-town buyers, they _______ such big orders.

a) will place

b) might not place

c) would place

d) wouldn't place

The answer is B. Why?

Frankly speaking, I think none of the answers is the one I would choose because I prefer to use "will not place". Am I right? Please advise.

LcChang

If we don't entertain our out-of-town buyers, they _______ such big orders.

Again, this is the type of "if" clause we have been discussing here for a while. Based on the context and given answers, "B" is the logical answer becasue the tone is set up to be somewhat negative, so "might not" is correct.

I understand now. Thanks.

But I still think it is kindda weird since the word "might" is a past tense modal verb here....the grammar book always tells us we have to use future tense such as will. Unless might is not considered past tense here. Please advise.

If I get paid, I will buy you lunch.

If I get paid, I would buy you lunch. (Is this one OK? I bet the grammar book will not allow this sentence to be made.)

LcChang

So d) is also correct, isn't it?

LcChang

Hello LCChang

First I'd like to tell you that, in current English, "would", "could", "might", can be used along with "will" and "may" as a modal of the present tense when they are used to refer to the degree of certainty of a future event.

So, either of the following is correct:
   [1] If we don't entertain them, they will not place such orders.  [most certain]
   [2] If we don't entertain them, they could not place such orders. [less certain]
   [3] If we don't entertain them, they may not place such orders. [less certain]
   [4] If we don't entertain them, they might not place such orders. [least certain]

But the use of "would" as below is somehow weird.
   [5] If we don't entertain them, they would not place such orders.

The weirdness comes from the rule that "would" is a special modal to be used in so-called counter-factual conditional sentences like below.
   [6] If we didn't entertain them, they would not place such orders.[unreal present]
   [7] If we hadn't entertained them, they would not have placed such orders. [unreal past]

paco