User Comments - 981614330

Posted on: The logic behind 別的，其他，另外

Thank you so much.  I've seen those three words and never understood how to use them properly, or thought that they were interchangeable.  Your explanation was very clear and useful.  Thank you.

Posted on: Two 'Iffy' Words

In English there are three conditionals.  In the same way as Mandarin has four tones, named first tone, second tone, third tone, fourth tone and toneless, we name our conditionals third conditional, second, first and zero.

0) If we heat ice, it melts.  If + simple present + simple present

Scientific facts or foregone conclusions.  In English, we can also say "When" instead of "if."   I would translate this with de shi2hou rather than with ru2guo or dehua4.  The others give me some trouble.

1) If it's raining, I'll stay home.  If + simple present + simple future

Likely or possible events.  

2) If I became King, I would ban asparagus.  If + past simple + would (contracted usually, eg I would --> I'd) + bare infinitive

Impossible things, pipe dreams or flights of fancy

3) If I had studied more, I would have passed the exam.  If + past perfect + would + past perfect. A more formal way is: Had I studied more, I would have passed the exam.

Conclusions of things which didn't happen.

Given how tricky Chinese people find these when they learn English, I'd guess that Mandarin doesn't make any such distinctions.  Could someone please show me translations of my example sentences?  Thank you so much for your time.