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The decision has been made and we ask for just one thing, an immediate positive intervention of Zaccagnini. If that won't happen, we'll have no choice but to execute the sentence, you understand?

This is the part of a monologue from the movie The Moro Affair. I would like to ask whether the clause "If that won't happen" is OK. I am aware that in some cases there is needed to use the future in the if-clause, like "If it will help you, I will go to a dentist with you". But my sentence contains after all type 2 of the conditional where the pattern is: if-clause – Simple present and main clause – Simple future. So I would await "If that doesn't happen, we'll have no choice".

bart-leby
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    If (we accept that the current situation is that) that won't* happen, we have no choice but to [blah blah]*. – FumbleFingers May 20 '16 at 19:35
  • @WS2: You could say If that won't happen = *Since it won't happen* in some contexts, whereas If it doesn't happen = *In the event that it doesn't...* – FumbleFingers May 20 '16 at 19:56
  • I thought that in my sentence fits your second version, i.e. If it doesn't happen = In the event that it doesn't. – bart-leby May 20 '16 at 20:10
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    This is the deontic sense of will, meaning be willing. It's the only interpretation of will allowed in if-clauses. We have asked for one thing to happen; if this won't happen -- i.e, if they won't allow it to happen -- then, ... – John Lawler May 20 '16 at 20:12
  • @John Lawler I can accept what you say about the deontic sense of will, and that it is the only one allowed in an if clause. On that basis I am going to delete my earlier comment. But what I don't understand is how an inanimate pronoun it, can be willing. – WS2 May 20 '16 at 20:38
  • @JohnLawler I think not. This looks to me like a different situation which licenses will in the protasis, what Declerck and Reed call a "closed condition". Here, what the protasis expresses is not a contingency but an accepted fact, and if does not mean "in the event that" but given the fact that. – StoneyB on hiatus May 20 '16 at 21:48
  • @StoneyB - So the speaker expects "an immediate positive intervention of Zaccagnini" will not happen. But it does not make much sense… – bart-leby May 20 '16 at 22:08
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    @bart-leby It amounts to "All we ask is that Zaccagnini intervene. You tell me that he will not, so we will have no choice but to execute the sentence" – StoneyB on hiatus May 20 '16 at 22:48
  • @StoneyB It is an unlikely structure in my view. Would I say I'm seeking the intervention of the Mayor. If that won't happen permission will not be granted? I think not. I would say something like: I'm seeking the intervention... If that does not happen then... It does not seem idiomatic to say If that won't happen... – WS2 May 22 '16 at 15:32
  • @WS2 I agree that it's unlikely in this context. I'm merely pointing out a context in which it would be acceptable--think of it as bearing a strong emphasis on won't: "If (as you say) that won't happen, we'll have no choice". – StoneyB on hiatus May 22 '16 at 15:36
  • @StoneyB I still think I'd say possibly Unless there is an intent for it to happen... I would never expect to see won't in this context and if I did I would puzzle over it. – WS2 May 22 '16 at 21:16

1 Answers1

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'If that doesn't happen' is the right form.

'Won't' comes from 'will not', so applies a person deciding not to do something. 'Doesn't' comes from 'do', so just describes a circumstance.

You might use 'if you won't' or 'if it doesn't' but not 'if it won't.'

Edit

Just realised it is more complex.

'Will it happen' and 'it won't happen' and 'it will happen' are all fine, but they never get combined with 'if'.

So

will it happen?
if it doesn't, we'll be fine.

Steve Cooper
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