First conditional

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Anonymous  #502488  Sat, 19 Apr 08 03:32 AM

Hi,

Why is that the ones I listed below can't be used in the first conditional, whereas 'might' and 'will' could be used? Is that right? 

If I have a pencil, I would/could use it to write a note.

How would be sure that 'would' adn 'could' here are used to refer to the past? I think, depending on how you use them, both can be used to refer to situations that are happening in the present. 

  
Marius Hancu  #502564  Sat, 19 Apr 08 10:36 AM
You need to be consistent:

would/could/might means unreal, and require had 

See:

[link]

The only way to find if this is present or past time it's from the context.  

  
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