Search results for 'tag:Conditionals tag:Numbers' matching tags 'Conditionals' and 'Numbers'

Re: Unreal condition in the past

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:42:01 GMT

Hi,
Would these be considered counfactual (Does counfactual mean contrary to the fact? Can we assume the word 'hypothetical' as having the same meaning as the term "counfactual" with a notion of a past event with the "general present" -- as you have coined (termed?) it? I see two terms used to explain number 2 conditionals and wonder if they have the same general meaning.)?

I believe these are mixed conditionals.

If Sam spoke English, he would have gotten the job.

If I put the phrase "back then," I am uncertain if it still has that "on-going" (to the present) notion.

If Sam spoke English back then, he would have gotten the job.

Re: Some very basic grammar questions

CalifJim — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:40:49 GMT

They are all correct.

For lengthier discussions with lots of examples of the use of the past perfect tense after before,

see Re: before past perfect tense , past tense and Re: Past Simple or Past Perfect.

This is a common pattern for expressing "interruptive relationships" between actions. (Leaving university "interrupts" the normal course of events which would have led to exams; the sacking "interrupts" the normal course of events which would have led to an explanation of the behavior.) The main clause contains the "interrupting" action. The before clause contains the "interrupted" action. Because the interrupted action has not taken place, the past perfect may be considered a way of expressing a counterfactual, that is, it may be considered a subjunctive with family resemblances to the if clause of the third conditional, thus: if I had taken the final exam or if he had had a chance to explain.

Re: what is the grammatical structure of this sentence?

Avangi — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:16:44 GMT

Hi rakib, Welcome to the English Forums!

You'll have to wait for an ESL expert to give you the inside scoop on conditionals and references.

If you stay, you will find out what I mean. Only if you stay will you find out what I mean. If you stay you will find out what I mean, but that's the only way.

IF the marginal benefit and cost are as close as possible to being equal, THEN the community will have the optimal number of schools, and that's the only way.

Sorry, but your underlined solution to the sentence is not grammatical.

Best wishes, - A.

Number 2 conditional?

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:07:54 GMT

Please tell me if they are number 2 conditionals or just a conditional or a gentle request or possibly a wrong conditonal

1. If you have some salt, would you pass it to me?
2. If you have some salt, you would pass it to me, wouldn't you?
3. If you had some salt, would you pass it to me?

Re: VERSATILE FIRST CONDITIONAL?

CalifJim — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:03:14 GMT

Your research is leading you to see that there is no complete agreement about what the terms "first, second, and third conditional" mean.

This is not mathematics, where every book you read says the same thing: 2 + 2 = 4.

This is grammar, where every author has his own opinion of what makes a first, second, or third conditional. These are not exact terms like "even number" and "odd number".

I think it may be time for you to move on to some other area of study before you drive yourself crazy.

Re: tense dilemma

Mister Micawber — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:20:38 GMT

.
I'm sorry, but your conglomeration of poorly structured example sentences and confused numbers makes it unclear to me what you are asking. Nor are your following questions particularly lucid. I can tell you that 'would fail' is conditional 2, which is a present form.

Perhaps if you revised and simplified your post, I could address your other concerns.

Re: If I had listened to you

Huevos — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:57:21 GMT

New2grammar
Oh no. I didn't buy a lottery ticket (?? This means any ticket of any lottery. How to be specific to the lottery his friend advised)

You could say "Oh no. I didn't buy that lottery ticket".

New2grammar
Why is there a condition? "supposing that the numbers had been selected before the draw"

The winning number was drawn, say, yesterday, and matched the number his friend advised him to buy

The condition is that the if clause may be fulfilled. In your sentences it is already impossible to fulfil the if clause making the sentences purely hypothesis. This is known as a type III conditional and is formed thus: if + past perfect + would + have + past participle. A conditional formed with if + simple past is known as a type II conditional and is used where it is still possible to fulfil the if clause however unlikely that may be.

Re: Follow-up to "Nagging conditional problem"

CalifJim — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 01:30:20 GMT

Anonymous
since he is a guru

This is no reflection on Marius at all, but realize that titles like Guru are based entirely on the number of posts a person has contributed to the forum. When you reach the correct number of posts (I forget what it is), you too will be a Guru.

conditional

Anonymous — Wed, 28 May 2008 01:46:31 GMT

Hi, Two questions, if I may.

1. Is this a correct conditional?

Note that the priests had to look after their own fellowship with God if they were to minister to others.

To follow what I call "traditional patterns", it seems logical to write it as:

Note that the priests would have had to look after their own fellowship with God if they were to ministr to others. -- Is "would have had" allowed for a number 2 "were' conditional?

If I were president, I would give more money to ...

Can it be?

If I were president, I would have done more for the workers in the company.

2. Can we use a modal like 'can' in an if-clause?

If I can have more people in this project, I will (would??-- not possible??) be able to finish it on time.

Thanks.

Re: conditional

Marius Hancu — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:41:42 GMT

Read:

http://www.englishpage.com/conditional/conditionalintro.html

those pages show you quite clearly the tenses and the real/unreal aspect of it.

Don't get stuck in numbers (type 1, etc), think about correctness and what you want to express.