Re: conditional

CalifJim — Thu, 29 May 2008 02:09:06 GMT

There are four named conditional patterns.

Zero -- IF present, present.

First -- IF present, WILL verb.

Second -- IF past, WOULD verb.

Third -- IF HAD past participle, WOULD HAVE past participle.

There are many variants of these patterns, but they have no names!

Because could can mean would be able to, and could have can mean would have been able to, could may substitute for would in the second and third conditionals.

The backshift of the Zero Conditional has no name. (IF past, past.)

If they expected to minister to others, they had to look after their own fellowship with God.

The pattern with would (or could) in both clauses has no name. The use of would or could in the if clause is unusual, and they are only used when emphasizing that the fulfillment of the condition is in the interest of the listener (or possibly the speaker). There's an element of politeness brought in by the use of would or could in these cases.

If you would/could bring cake to the party, I would/could bring cookies.

conditional

Anonymous — Thu, 29 May 2008 00:47:46 GMT

Hi,

1.Mr. Wordy wrote this response for a thread named "conditional":

1. The priests had to look after their own fellowship with God if they were to minister to others -- suggests that they probably did look after their own fellowship with God and consquently did minister to others.

What conditional is this? Is a past in the main clause possible??

2. Is the modal 'would' possible in both the main clause and if-clause possible? Possibly as a second condiional?

If you would bring cake to the party, I would bring more friends to the birthday party.

I think a second conditional makes it somewhat mandatory for a past tense to be in the if-clause. Are they correct?

If you could/did/made a commitment/express-delivered/baked??- all possible?? bring cake to the party, I would bring more friends to the birthday party.

ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: conditional

conditional