Conditional

Share on Facebook

Fayshiang

#557263 Thu, 21 Aug 08 04:52 PM

Hi,

I'm learning conditional sentences. I found in a forum these sentences which I believe is not right. So I corrected them. Do you agree with my corrections?

If the 10 largest U.S. airlines don't boost revenues and restructure loans, their cumulative cash could shrink 62 percent to about $8.6 billion by year's end, estimated Philip Baggaley, chief credit analyst at Standard & Poor's. (don't => didn't)

United, American and Northwest Airlines have all renegotiated covenants that would likely cause them to default on loans later this year if cash flows continue to decline. (continue => continued)

It could reduce flying further if fuel costs continue to rise, Mikells said. (continue => continued)

But that isn't nearly enough to cover the $23 billion jump in fuel costs that they face this year if oil stays at current levels, according to the Virginia-based market research firm. (isn't => won't be)

Thanks!

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.

Conditionals

Kooyeen

#557293 Thu, 21 Aug 08 07:28 PM

Hi,
I think conditional structures are pretty flexible. There are more than just three of them, and it is sometimes difficult to classify them. In addition, tenses are often mixed up that way in speech or non-edited writing. Also, "could" with present tenses doesn't bother me, or at least not as much as "would" in the same kinds of structures.

That said, I'm not a native speaker, so you might want to wait for someone else. Smile