Zero conditional form
Chatting with a colleague we came a cross a dilemma (as we are not English native), which of the following sentences are wrong? Why?
- If I knew everything, I'd be a genius.
- If I know everything, I'd be a genius.
- if I know everything, I'm a genius.
The 2nd should be wrong, as with the present I should use either the future or the present, in fact the 3rd seems to me correct, in fact the rule is:
The Zero Conditional is used for actions that are always true when the conditions are satisfied.
So to form this particular condition I use this form:
If + Present Simple, + Present Simple
Am I wrong?
Solution 1:
Sentences 1 and 3 are both correct.
Sentence 1 is a counterfactual conditional sentence, and sentence 3 is a factual conditional sentence.
Factual:
In these constructions, the condition clause expresses a condition the truth of which is unverified.
Counterfactual:
In these constructions, the condition clause expresses a condition that is known to be false, or presented as unlikely.
Sentence 2 is indeed wrong because it is mixing the two in an incompatible way.