Twistedthistle Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
first or second conditional
HI everyone, I was wondering which one you'd prefer in the following conversation, the first or second conditional:
A: I'm torn between studying French and studying English.
B: Well if you study French, you'll enjoy it more. But if you study English, it'll open up more career opportunities.
OR
B: Well if you studied French, you'd enjoy it more. But if you studied English, it'd open up more career opportunities.
Personally I'm drawn towards the second conditional...possibly because the choice element makes the situation more hypothetical...
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance
TT
A: I'm torn between studying French and studying English.
B: Well if you study French, you'll enjoy it more. But if you study English, it'll open up more career opportunities.
OR
B: Well if you studied French, you'd enjoy it more. But if you studied English, it'd open up more career opportunities.
Personally I'm drawn towards the second conditional...possibly because the choice element makes the situation more hypothetical...
Any thoughts on this?
Thanks in advance
TT
Top answer
Well, the second is more hypothetical, but that doesn't make it 'better'. The one to use is the one that expresses the degree of certainty that you wish to convey.
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Well, the second is more hypothetical, but that doesn't make it 'better'. The one to use is the one that expresses the degree of certainty that you wish to convey.
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