If/then in the future

Asked Sep 12 '22 at 10:28

Active Sep 12 '22 at 15:36

Viewed 31 times

A song lyrics got me thinking.

If you leave me I'll miss you much.

I know songs are absolved of following strict grammar thus I'm not criticizing it. My question is as follows: what tense(s)* are appropriate for expressing 'if/then in the future'.

Follow all the modifications of that sentence which sound at least somewhat OK in my head.

<the original>

If you left me I would miss you much.

If you leave me I would miss you much.

If you leave me I'm gonna miss you much.

If you have left me I'd be missing you much.

_{* - in the popular meaning, not the linguistic science's totally useless one}

asked Sep 12 '22 at 10:28

Vorac

We often say I miss you so much, but we don't normally say *I miss you much***. – FumbleFingers Sep 12 '22 at 10:40
...and when it's not contracted, Americans in particular normally "expand" If you'd have left me... to If you would* have left me...* But I'm perfectly happy to go with If you had have* left me...* regardless of what grammarians say about that one. – FumbleFingers Sep 12 '22 at 10:45
If you leave me I'll miss you so much is impeccable grammar. We don't use the future tense in the if clause, but in the main clause, it's fine. – Peter Shor Sep 12 '22 at 10:47

If/then in the future

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