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IF X, Y

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IF X, Y

by akhpad » Fri Dec 02, 2011 12:41 am
I found use of IF at following link, which seems to be suspicious

https://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learn ... v315.shtml
Please comment on above link?

As I know, followings are the possible use of IF.
IF X, THAN Y

THAN is optional

1
X [Simple Present Tense], Y [Simple Present Tense]; it indicates fact
X [Simple Present Tense], Y [Future Tense = will]; It indicates certainty
X [Simple Present Tense], Y [Future Tense = may]; It indicates possibility

2
X [Simple Past Tense], Y [Simple Past Tense]; It indicates fact
X [Simple Past Tense], Y [Hypothetical sentence = would]; This is the case of subjunctive

3
X [Past Perfect Tense], Y [Hypothetical sentence = would have]; Subjunctive again
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by akhpad » Fri Dec 09, 2011 11:26 pm
I concerned about IF clause containing WILL. Above link talks about it as an exception.

Can experts shed some light on these?
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by lunarpower » Sat Dec 10, 2011 5:56 am
i received a private message regarding this thread.

you haven't really asked a specific question here, but it seems that you're asking whether the use of "if X will...", as described in that thread, is acceptable.

if that is your question:

the second and third examples are confined to the spoken or informal english language; you don't have to know them for the test (although you should be aware of their meanings and undertones, as they are quite common in the spoken language).

the first type -- used to describe something conditional on future results -- is also valid, even in the formal written language. however, i don't think that this usage has ever been tested on the gmat.
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

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by akhpad » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:20 am
Thanks Ron for clarification

In GMAT, I understood that IF clause containing WILL will not come. But when I saw that it was used in some other ways at some places, I got confused as I am non-native speaker.

So you endorse only first type--mentioned in link--in written language.
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by lunarpower » Sat Dec 10, 2011 6:26 pm
akhpad wrote:Thanks Ron for clarification

In GMAT, I understood that IF clause containing WILL will not come. But when I saw that it was used in some other ways at some places, I got confused as I am non-native speaker.

So you endorse only first type--mentioned in link--in written language.
the first is really the only one that can do in written language, as the other two require vocal intonation and/or gestures in order to make their point. (you may see the latter two in informal writing, such as personal email -- but the writer will probably have to use italics, or other things that simulate spoken language, in order to make them work.)

however, that doesn't mean that you have to be intimately familiar with the first version, either. as i said in the post above, i think it's extremely unlikely that any of these constructions will show up on the test.
Ron has been teaching various standardized tests for 20 years.

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