“If they ___ me this job, I’d turn it down.” a) would offer b) were to offer I had this question in my test lately. The latter is the right answer, but I don’t really get the difference between these two. Could someone explain it? Answer If they were to offer me this job, I … Read more
Is that sentence correct: The situation in a restaurant, answer to a waiter: If you had told me the appetizer was extra charge / extra paid, I would have given you a tip. Answer You can just say “extra” without “paid” or “charge”. “Cost extra” would sound more correct than “was extra”. If you really … Read more
Is it possible to use infinitive and start statement with it to express conditional statement? For example: To go out with you today, I need to finish my job. If it isn’t correct way, could you suggest the best way to express such statements? Answer Yes, there is no problem with starting a sentence with … Read more
I would like to ask you for clarification, if the usage of the when clause is correct in the second conditional. In one book I found the sentence: When the factory came online in 1990, he would control the best factory in the world. The first part of the sentence – When the factory came … Read more
I have been told that ‘unless’ can’t be used in hypothetical clauses as follows: Unless Ann had studied hard, she would have failed the exam. My question is, why is using ‘unless’ in the conditional clause above unacceptable? Answer You’re correct, that sentence ?Unless Ann had studied hard, she would have failed the exam. is … Read more
I stumbled upon it in this video. It is at 1 hour 21 minute and 42 second. If the Israelis would ever once just say we got screwed in 1948, and we are sorry it happened, we would be willing to make peace. I think it is quite clear that the sentence is conditional, thus … Read more
Is the above sentence grammatically correct? Answer This is an example that covers three different points of English grammar which we need to look at separately. First, to look at the tenses, consider a different sentence that avoids the second and third issues: If we have not wasted our time we would be in better … Read more
I’ve been doing some exercises lately when one thing struck me: Miss Baiocci would, I am sure, be a real asset to your organisation, knowing as she does a great deal about the way a company such as yours operates. […] If it were not clear that she is determined to move away from this … Read more
Mark didn’t apply for the job because he didn’t get his diploma on time. i’m not sure if i should use conditional 2 or 3. personally, i think it’s 3. because it is contrary to reality. if mark had had got his diploma on time, he would have applied for the job Answer This situation … Read more
According to Murphy’s English Grammar in Use you can use “have to” in all forms, and he offers an example in the past simple and another one in the present perfect tense. Hence, I was wondering if had to followed by a perfect infinitive would be feasible. In Spanish, there are two constructions very similar … Read more
