[title]Family quotes[/title] [description]Welcome to our family quotes section! Here you'll find some of the funniest (and wisest) quotes on the subject of family life![/description]
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Latest post Fri, Mar 28 2008 9:59 PM by Doll. 1 replies.
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Anonymous  +  493511 Thu, 27 Mar 08 10:24 AM

Hi there

I've just read a helpful post on modals in conditionals, giving the following list:

If she has [present] time, she [can, could, (shall), should, will, may, might, must] go to the party. [not "would']

If she had [past] time, she [could, would, might] go to the party. [not "should"]

My first question; why can't 'should' be used in the second conditional? Does it have to be replaced by something like 'it would be advisable'. And is the same true for 'must'?

Second: How about the third conditional? Which modals can be used there and how?

 

Thanks,

Eustacia



Doll  +  494148 Fri, 28 Mar 08 09:59 PM

The answer is here:   

Typically, when the accompanying clause is an "if" clause, the historical present tense forms go with present tense verbs, and historical past tense forms go with past tense verbs. However, "could" and "might", meaning "may" ("it is possible"), can be used with present tense verbs (as well as with past tense verbs). "should" has lost most of its force as a past tense and is better thought of as a present tense form in modern English, meaning "it is advisable". ("shall" is the least used of the modals shown above.) The result of all these historical changes is that in modern English we have far more choices in sentences with a present point of view than in those with a past point of view.   

As for the third type, if she had had time, she "could have done" , "would have done", "should have done", "must have done", "might have done" etc. can be used.

 

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