Conditional I question?

[Saneta]

Dear Torsten,
Thank you for welcoming me. I got 7 right answers (out of 10) in this test from your message on the first attempt. Isn't it worst? Please explain:
1. Does the phrase: 'if you like' mean = 'if you want'?
2. Do these two sentences below mean the same?
I wonder if Betty will decide to take a job in Australia.= I wonder if Betty decides to take a job in Australia.

When I should use 'will' after 'if'? I know that I should use Present Simple after 'if' in First Conditional, but when I should use Future Simple after If?

Thank you very much for your help.
Regards,
Aneta

[Alan]

Hi Aneta,

'If you like' means 'if that's what you want' (to do).

'If you will' usually suggests a polite request as in: If you will be so kind, I'd like you to help me.

In your sentences: 'I wonder if Betty will decide ...' suggests 'I wonder if Betty is going to decide'.

'I wonder if Betty decides ..' isn't really a valid sentence because 'decides' dosen't really capture the 'future' idea in 'decide'. That's why I would suggest 'will' or 'is going to '.

Alan
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English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple

[Saneta]

Hi Alan, thank you very much for your help, but............ I think that 'decides' in the sentence: 'I wonder if Betty decides to take a job in Australia' refers to the future, because this sentence is a part of sentence in Conditional I for me, for example the part of sentence: 'If Betty decide to take a job in Australia, I will go with ger'. So why do you think that 'decides' doesn't refer to future???

[Saneta]

Hi Alan, thank you very much for your help, but............ I think that 'decides' in the sentence: 'I wonder if Betty decides to take a job in Australia' refers to the future, because this sentence is a part of sentence in Conditional I for me, for example the part of sentence: 'If Betty decides to take a job in Australia, I will go with ger'. So why do you think that 'decides' doesn't refer to future???

[Alan]

Hi,

The sentence changes when you add 'I wonder'. Certainly 'If she decides, I will go with her' is an example of a 'possible' condition sentence.

Alan
_________________
English as a Foreign Language
You can read my EFL story Progressive Forms