Conditional

1 2

Share on Facebook

jack112

#155004 Fri, 04 Nov 05 04:30 AM

Scenario: We had a math test. And my friend is asking me about a question we did. He is not sure what he did and I tell him:

1. If you added the worng number, it would sitll worked.
2. If you added the worng number, it sitll worked. (Is this one correct without 'would'?)

Thanks.

jack112

Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004

Regular Member (715)

Numbers

Mister Micawber

#155063 Fri, 04 Nov 05 09:40 AM

The test is finished, hence there is no unknown-- either he added the number correctly or he did it incorrectly:

Incorrect number used: If you added the wrong number, it still worked.
Correct number used: If you had added the wrong number, it would still have worked.

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (22,347)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Numbers

jack112

#157277 Thu, 10 Nov 05 09:22 PM

What is the difference between these two:

1. If you added the wrong number, it still worked. (What does this sentence mean compared to #2?)

2. If you added the wrong number, it would still work. (With the context stated in my first post, is 'would' past tense here?)

Thanks.

jack112

Difference between, Tenses, Numbers, Past tenses

Anonymous

#159241 Wed, 16 Nov 05 04:49 PM

1. If you added the wrong number, it still worked.

The condition is a real possibilty concerning the past and the outcome is a fact known in the present. Usually, the first conditional is if + present + will, but I think this is classed as the first conditional because we are dealing with what is real. I'd be more than happy for anyone to correct this classification if they believe I'm wrong. Smile [:)]

2. If you added the wrong number, it would still work.

Technically speaking, this is the second conditional if + past + would. This statement could be said before the test as an imaginary scenario. In other words, the person in question has no intention of adding the wrong number.

If this statement were said after the test, then it would be a mixed conditional, as the condition is based on a real possibility, yet the result is unreal.

Anonymous

Numbers, Conditionals, Mixed conditionals

Jussive

#159244 Wed, 16 Nov 05 04:51 PM

That last post was mine. I hate this anonymous business! Angry [:@]

Jussive

Joined on Sun, Sep 25 2005

Full Member (144)

Fayshiang

#556934 Wed, 20 Aug 08 04:52 PM

What if he has forgotten what number he added? How should I response?

Fayshiang

Joined on Wed, Aug 20 2008

USA

New Member (10)

I love my hour of wind and light,I love men's faces and their eyes,I love my spirit's veering flightLike swallows under evening skies.

Numbers

Mister Micawber

#557000 Wed, 20 Aug 08 11:01 PM

.
Respond to what?

Mister Micawber

Fayshiang

#557078 Thu, 21 Aug 08 05:59 AM

New scenario: We had a math test. And my friend is asking me about a question we did. He has forgotten whether he added a wrong number and I tell him:

If you added the worng number, it sitll worked.

Am I right?

Fayshiang

Numbers

Mister Micawber

#557099 Thu, 21 Aug 08 07:23 AM

.
Yes.
.

Mister Micawber

1 2