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Do the "if" and "when" in these two sentences mean facts or assumptions?
What's the good of buying a boat if you're too busy to use it?
What good is money when you haven't any friends?
Are the two words interchangeable in the sentences? Can I use "since" instead, if they indicate facts?
Aug 28, 2014 8:38 AM
Answers · 2
Both statements. Starting with if and when are assumptions rather than facts.
They could be used interchangeably, but there is a subtle difference. In the first sentence, if is conditional.... It may be useless to buy a boat if you are too busy to use. It, but that doesn't mean you are actually too busy . In the second sentence money is useless when you have no friends...and this applies to situations only when there are no friends, so it is a more definitive statement.
If you use 'since' this is a very definitive meaning - you are too busy, or you have no friends whatsoever. It is a very different meaning.
Hope this is some help.
August 28, 2014
This is the "zero conditional," you can search on-line. Yes, "if" and "when" are equivalent.. it's stating a general fact.
"Since" would be different, explicitly referring to a specific case.
August 28, 2014
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xiaokaoy
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English
Learning Language
English
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