pleasehelp  +  931259 Wed, 07 Oct 09 02:08 AM But I rather have something my dad can't sell -Conditional I But I'd rather have something my dad couldn't sell - Conditional II Correct me if I'm wrong! pleasehelp Joined on Sun, Sep 20 2009 Regular Member 614 Conditionals, Sentences

	pleasehelp  +  931321 Wed, 07 Oct 09 03:31 AM pleasehelp “But I rather have something my dad can't sell -Conditional I But I'd rather have something my dad couldn't sell - Conditional II Correct me if I'm wrong! ” But please tell me if the sentences are right! pleasehelp Conditionals, Sentences

	AlpheccaStars  +  931338 Wed, 07 Oct 09 03:46 AM Hi Please: Conditional sentences have the word "if" with a condition. The degree of the conditional depends on the likelihood of the if-condition being true or not. If you heat water to a temperature of 100 degrees centigrade, it will boil. (true!) If I were your father, I would help you every day. (false!) Please see this LINK for  summary of conditionals. AlpheccaStars Joined on Sun, Oct 12 2008 Senior Member 3,508 The pen is mightier than the sword. Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803-1873) Conditionals, Sentences, Degree

	CalifJim  +  931456 Wed, 07 Oct 09 06:03 AM pleasehelp “But I rather have” No.  I would rather (or I'd rather) is a fixed idiom meaning I prefer, I would prefer, or I'd prefer.  There is no I rather, I did rather, I used to rather, I have rathered, or any such form.  rather isn't even a verb.  Your attempt to force this idiom into a sequence of tenses pattern and then call them conditionals won't work.  They aren't conditionals. The version you are most likely to hear is this: But I'd rather have something my dad can't sell. Nevertheless, you can also have this (your second example): But I'd rather have something my dad couldn't sell.  (couldn't = wouldn't be able to) CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,399 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Tenses, Conditionals, Idioms, Sentences