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Poll: The third conditional is only used about an established fact in the if- clause.

The third conditional is only used about an established fact in the if- clause.

True
False

Statistics Poll Stats

This Poll:

  • Votes: 454
  • Comments: 3
  • Added: September 2003

Comments:

Willbut

It doesn't have to be an established fact, but the speaker or writer must feel that it is a fact. If you're not sure whether it is the case, then we generally use the past tense, linking the unreal past with the unsure present. It has the idea of the present because the truth is not yet clear.

tdol

We can also use the second conditional for past facts\repeated actions, like a past zero conditional:

If it was wet, mum would make us stay indoors.

Red5

That was a lucky guess! ;-)

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