Would

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New2grammar  #483859  Sun, 02 Mar 08 05:24 AM

Avangi, I know you said you would rewrite if clause in present tense. However, I'd like to understand why you wrote it in the present tense followed by woulds. I'm sure your structure is correct and natural and by understanding it, it'll help me understand native speakers better and follow native speakers' conversations better.

Believe it or not, I've tried to understand this type of structure many times but am still lost.

Please help thanks!

If you just say, "I'm gonna be late," you probably would(3) have already tipped the person off that you would(4) need to end the conversation soon, and as you suggest, you would(5) still expect to be on time if you left immediately.

 

  
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Marius Hancu  #483911  Sun, 02 Mar 08 08:38 AM
This is the repetitive/typical would, showing what would typicaly happen in that situation.

Avangi is giving you typical reasons for those answers, he's making hypotheses in the past or present about reasons for them.  

See Swan, Practical English Usage, you seem to really need it.

Also, read and try to understand the whole  entry for "would" here:

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/would

or in a major printed dictionary, say Cobuild Advanced Learner's (which is very good for ESL learners).  It's all there.

  
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