Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Summer Wine]

I have been asked by my co-teacher to check answers on a test paper.

This one has been bothering me. Its a fill in the answer.

"What would you do if the sky _________________ ?

1. will be blue
2. was pink
3. is blue
4. has been pink
5. has been blue

The student chose 1 and I chose 2.

The reason is that for me 1 is a strange expression. Its seems to ask a past and future question. For me 'what will do you if the sky will be blue' would be more appropriate than 'what would you do if the sky will be blue'.

The expression 'what would you do if the sky was pink' means what would you do if the world was strange or suddenly the wierd occured or thats how I have heard it used in the past.

Though as we have 7 different english speaking cultures in Korea and each country has its own quirks and expressions, I felt that I should seek others opinions.

The questions were designed by an NET so the Koreans think that I should be able to choose, but as there is a range of reasons such as local expressions, mistake on the part of the writer, or simply cultural usuages of an expression, I find it difficult to make a determination.

What do you think?

[schwa]

I'd say none of the above.

I'd guess the question maker was aiming for #2 but should have used the subjunctive "were pink."

[Summer Wine]

Thanks for that.

I guess most agree with you or no have no idea.

[some waygug-in]

What Schwa said.

The answers are all wrong according to prescriptive grammar rules.

Though in spoken English (b) would be the most acceptable.

A) sounds like something a non-native speaker would say, but definitely not correct.

The others are just wrong.

[drydell]

as above correct because it's the question form of the 2nd conditional

IF ---- condition (past simple) ---- Result (Would + base verb)

If---- the sky (were) pink ----- I (would take) a photo

As a question..

"What would you do if the sky were pink?" (was becomes were in 2nd conditional)

so 2nd option is closest but still a bit wrong - technically

[tmax500]

2nd conditional: What would you do if the sky was pink?
(2nd conditional for unlikely events)

For any other English grammar questions http://forum.wordreference.com/ (English-only section) is the best website to visit

(By the way, if a pink sky is common or likely then it would be the 1st conditional: What will you do if the sky is pink?)

[The Cosmic Hum]

[Geumchondave]

prescriptively none for the reasons given above, descriptively at least in British English number 2 would be correct we only use 'were' for the 2nd conditional if we really want to emphasise the fact - in normal usage we would use 'was' for this example - i know i certainly would

[Geumchondave]

and conditional sentences are hardly obtuse - i cover them with my classes at least once a semester.

[tomstar86]

Being a Brit, I saw nothing wrong with number 2 at all - we tend to use this in both spoken, and written English.

However, it should really be "if the sky were pink" to cover correct grammatical structures across all types of English (especially American).

Number 1 sounds clunky and awkward to me - if a student presented me with that, I'd correct it to "were" and assume that they didn't know the correct tense or grammar structure.

Tom

http://waegook-tom.com

[Summer Wine]

Thanks all.

[some waygug-in]

It depends upon the age of the grammar book you use and whether or not that book is prescriptive or descriptive in intent.

More prescriptive rules require the use of "were" for the subjuntive,

as seen here: http://www.fortunecity.com/bally/durrus/153/gramch09.html

More modern grammar books however are closer to actual usage and would go with "was".

I think the Schrampfer-Azar books have a good explanation of this.


Anyhoo, I be know exspurtt. I jess fallowz thu rulz.