Hello,
I know that supposedly there are three types of conditional sentences: type I stating conditions which are always true or very probable in the present or future, type II stating conditions which are improbable or impossible in the present or future or type III stating unreal conditions in the past. All shool grammars I consulted to help me with my question said that conditional sentences type I had the present form in the if-clause and the present form/imperative/future form in the main clause. QUESTION: What about sentences that state possible conditions in the past? According to the shool-grammar-sheme that's not even possible. And: "If she went shopping yesterday she won't have to do it today" meaning I think it's possible that she did go shopping yesterday but I don't know for sure sounds right to me. Am I wrong? Is there anyone out ther who can help me? Thanks in advance!
Heike

Anonymous wrote:

Hello, I know that supposedly there are three types of conditional sentences: type I stating conditions which are always true or very probable in the present or future, type II stating conditions which are improbable or impossible in the present or future or type III stating unreal conditions in the past. All shool grammars I consulted to help me with my question said that conditional sentences type I had the present form in the if-clause and the present form/imperative/future form in the main clause. QUESTION: What about sentences that state possible conditions in the past? According to the shool-grammar-sheme that's not even possible. And: "If she went shopping yesterday she won't have to do it today" meaning I think it's possible that she did go shopping yesterday but I don't know for sure sounds right to me. Am I wrong? Is there anyone out ther who can help me? Thanks in advance! Heike

If she had gone shopping yesterday, she wouldn't have [had] to today.  (truly a conditional)

If she went shopping yesterday, she won't have to today.  (I see this 'if' = 'because", not really a conditional)