|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Problem 1: can
Problem 1: can
|
goodnesses
|
Problem 1: can
|
Ok, guys I need your valuable help about the following problem.
Can we use "can" in conditional sentences type 0 as in type 1?
To be clear,
1 - can we consider the following sentence as type 0:
If/when the pupils don�t listen carefully to their teacher, they cannot understand the lesson.
as we can say
If/When the pupils don�t listen carefully to their teacher, they don�t understand the lesson.
--> not listening = certainly not understanding
2 - Can we consider this one as type 1 (I think there is no doubt about it):
If the pupils listen carefully to their teacher, they will/may/can understand the lesson
--> listening = possibility of understanding
In other words does "can" in N� 1 have the same meaning as in N� 2?
Waiting for feedback.
Thanks All
|
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
|
marta73
|
|
For some reason I cannot yet explain ( it�s 2.30 a.m. my brain is quite thick now), that sentence sounds a bit awkward to me ( but I�m not a native).I would tend to say "If the pupils don�t listen carefully, they won�t be able to understand" to express a probability and not a universal truth with type 0 conditional. I�ll think about it tomorrow. |
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
goodnesses
|
I see your brain is really thick (you posted the same message twice)
Take your time.
You are welcome to give your feedback at any time the discussion is open.
Thanks Marta.
|
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
Zora
|
Using "can" would change the sentence into a 1� Conditional because technically it�s form is like a "modal" verb... and these confusions are probably why some grammar books consider that the 0 Conditional doesn�t really exist and tend to group it with the First. (
The 0 conditional form is always (no exceptions.. usually ..  ) - If + present tense + present tense
If you mix blue and red, you get pink.
If you have a headache, go to bed.
And the answer to your question is no. The modals in the second part will affect the meaning of the sentence.
If the pupils listen carefully to their teacher, they will understand the lesson - means that if they are listening to the lesson they will most assuredly understand it.
If the pupils listen carefully to their teacher, they may understand the lesson - means that if they are listening, then there is a good chance that they will understand it.
If the pupils listen carefully to their teacher, they can understand the lesson. - is very forced and while grammatically correct, it seems to be missing some information. It would be better to say for example: "If the pupils listen carefully to their teacher, they can understand the lesson without taking notes."
|
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
goodnesses
|
Hi, Zora.
I can�t disagree with you about most of your opinion.
My last question to be more clear should have been:
Does "can(not)" in N� 1 have the same meaning as "can" in N� 2?
thanks for yur valuable reply Zora
|
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
Zora
|
Yes, they both mean basically the same thing. I misunderstood the question obviously... 
|
25 Sep 2008
|
|
|
