I am trying to make example sentences. Are these correct and natural?: ・If I see him, I will let him know. ・If I met an alien, I would be happy. I want to make a pair of natural example sentences

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H, みほ

I am trying to make example sentences. Are these correct and natural?: ・If I see him, I will let him know. ・If I met an alien, I would be happy. I want to make a pair of natural example sentences for: ・If (present tense), I will do... (An event possible to happen) ・If (past tense), I would do... (An event not likely to happen)

2023년 9월 15일 오전 5:33

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Both sentences are perfect. The second sentence is not past tense. It looks like past tense but it is actually "subjunctive" mood. The subjunctive mood looks like the past tense for all verbs except "to be". For the verb "to be", you say "were" instead of "was" in subjunctive mood. Here's an example: "If I were to meet an alien, I would be happy."

2023년 9월 15일

・If I see him, I will let him know.

Hi, this is great grammatically but the first sentence sounds strange to me. Without other context, one assumes that him is the same person in both clauses. If you meet him (the meaning of see in this context) then you don't need to let him know, this feels absurd. I would say: "If I see him, I'll let YOU know"

2023년 9월 15일

I am so sorry, that was a mistake! I wanted to say that your sentences and reasoning behind it is absolutely correct.

2023년 9월 15일

Hi Miho, yes, that's precisely correct! Conditional sentences which use present simple are usually just expressions of something that's likely to happen. Past simple conditionals are used for things which are unrealistic or unlikely.

2023년 9월 15일

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