Re: conditional

Marius Hancu — Wed, 28 May 2008 10:27:15 GMT

B) For past time, I think you should use in this context:

If you hadn't been such a bad singer, you would have gotten a job as a professional singer.

If you hadn't been so occupied with you work, you would have seen him trying to steal your money.

But if you necessarily want to read your sentences, they talk about a past.

For present time, use:

If you weren't such a bad singer, you would get a job as a professional singer.

If you weren't so occupied with you work, you would see him trying to steal your money. [kind of strange to me

conditional

Anonymous — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:44:17 GMT

Hi,

A:How is it different? Is the zero conditional and the second and third ones type 1? I think CalifJim told us that the modal 'can' counts as present.

1.If you can make money, please use the money to help people.

2. If you can make money, use money to help people.

3. If you can make money, you will be able to help people.

Can we use a modal verb like can, may, should in the if-clause or the main clause, as well as going to future or present continuous future, as well as a present perfect in the if-clause for both zero and first conditionals? We can't seem to be able to use all those for type 2 and 3 conditionals. sorry for asking many questions.

B:Does this mixed conditional show ongoing circumstances in relation to a event happened in the past OR does it indicate a past result by a present hypothetical situation as I thought it was?

If you weren't such a bad singer, You would have gotten a job as a professional singer.

If you weren't so occupied with you work, you would have seen him trying to steal your money.

ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: conditional

conditional