Re: Conditional sentences

A. Brent Hudson (g9117472@mcmaster.ca)
Tue, 07 May 96 22:10:34 -0500

> Bl.-D refers to the structure "EI + indicative in the protasis
> as "EI with the indicative of reality."

It seems that the "reality" is demonstrated from the classification of the
indicative rather than on formal grounds relating to the condition. I
searched for first class conditions in the 1Cor (thanks for the hint Bruce)
and I found that 1Cor 15:17 appears to be a "contrary to fact" first class
condition. If we can take the indicative as "potential indicative
expressing a condition" (p. 117) in this instance, why must the "declarative
indicative" be used in other first class conditions? (p. 117) It seems to
me that only context can determine the reality or unreality of a first class
condition. Such an approach would allow an interpretation of "since" (which
you have already noted is possible but I assume we must based on the context
since it would not work in 1Cor 15:17) and also a simple "if."

Brent

--
__________________________________________
 A. Brent Hudson 
 Graduate Program in Religious Studies	
 McMaster University,			
 Hamilton, Ontario, CANADA	
__________________________________________
abhudson@wchat.on.ca
             OR
g9117472@mcmaster.ca
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 "Everything used to be so clear"