conditional sentences
Consider the following sentence:"The latest version of Firefox for desktop is out now. If you already have it, you've probably noticed a few changes." Which type of conditional forms is true for this statement? The main problem is using present perfect in conditional form which I can't find in any possible forms.
beautiful mind
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3 answers 
"The latest version of Firefox for desktop is out now. If you already have it, you will probably notice a few changes."
If +Subject + present tense verb...................Subject +will +present tense verb. ( First conditional)
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answered Jul 03 '12 at 12:59
sanjay
Expert
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Well, thanks, but you have changed the verb tense in result clause. In fact,I couldn't find any examples in reference books using simple present in if clause and present perfect tense in result clause. It is definitely conditional form Type I, but I haven't found any other examples yet.
add commentThe closest I come is that your sentence is -- almost -- a conditional perfect, which is a variant of a Type I conditional. However, conditional perfects always include would.
If you already have (possess) it, you would have noticed a few changes.
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answered Jul 03 '12 at 14:15
Jeff Pribyl
Grammarly Fellow
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Thanks, I haven't seen the above form any where else. could you possibly give me any reference or other examples? Are you sure that we can use would+have+ p.p in Type I?
The comment field is too limiting, so I've added a second answer.
add commentI've been trying to recreate where I found the conditional perfect linked with Type I conditionals, but I can't this morning. The more I review my information about the conditional perfect -- would/could/should + have + past participle-- the more I question my memory. The conditional perfect construction is used for conditional situations occurring in the past; it expresses thoughts which are or may be contrary to present fact. This does not square with Type I conditionals.
Like you, I cannot find any examples where present perfect occurs in the result clause of a conditional. However, I find many examples of the present perfect occurring in the if clause. Nonetheless, your usage "sounds" right.
Let's go back to first principles for a moment. A Type I conditional is used to express something that is possible and is also very likely that it will be fulfilled. By your intended meaning, this is the form you want. As Sanjay noted, the if clause uses the present tense and the result clause typically uses the simple future. But my references also say the result clause can use the future perfect tense.
Could this be our problem? Perhaps we have misused the contraction you've for the increasingly rare and awkward you'll've?
Rather than saying you have probably noticed, say instead you will have probably noticed and your sentence meets all of the requirements for a Type I conditional.
To avoid splitting the infinitive --> you probably will have noticed ...
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edited Jul 03 '12 at 16:22
Jeff Pribyl
Grammarly Fellow
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Thanks for your complete answer. As I understood you are saying that the original sentence lacks something which is 'will', right? I have also found that in Type I we can use future perfect tense. So we can conclude that we don't have such form as : "If I +simple present, I have done..." in English conditionals , right?
This is the original text by Firefox company:
"New Firefox, New Features
The latest version of Firefox for desktop is out now. If you already have it, you've probably noticed a few changes. If you don't, now's a perfect time to get it. (It's OK, we'll wait.) Ready? Great!
Read more: http://pkmkarangduren.blogspot.com/2012/06/5-minutes-to-faster-firefox.html#ixzz1za1Gx7un
Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Share Alike"
What do you say?
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