In Modals^x, Conditionals^x

Dear MrP, So according to what you've said what would be the closest equivalent to the following sentences: 1) Unfortunately, I'm not as agile as I used to be. a) If only I were as agile as I used to be. (this one ?) b) If only I could be as agile... 2) I regret the fact that we...

I think this is the recommended one: -- If I had gone to the supermarket, I would definitely have bought some ham. but others are possible: -- When there are two or more verb auxiliaries, the adverb usually goes after the first: -- You have definitely been working too hard. But...

Anonymous wrote: Just trying to get my head around this long verb phrase; can anyone help me break it down into its elements? Working backwards, I can see that "have been eating" is the present perfect continuous form. Presumably, the preceding "had to" is just a periphrastic modal...

Lcchang wrote: It seems to me that a present auxiliary "may" is used for the past event. That has confused me for a while. She may have forgotten our invitation. Other than being used for degrees of certainty for the events that was happened in the past, can "may" also be used for...

Dear teachers, I would lile to ask you some big questions, and please be any help. I read in my text book about the use of past modals for degrees of certainty and opinions and advice. For degress of certainty, the book says: Probability: She must have left already. She...

I presume that you have gone onto the wrong track. There literally exist 2 verb phrases here. What I mean is that one is given 'inflection' (ie. Subject Agreement + Tense + Aspect) and the other only given 'Tense' (and all that goes with it: Tense, Agreement with Object, etc.) To make it...

Just trying to get my head around this long verb phrase; can anyone help me break it down into its elements? Working backwards, I can see that "have been eating" is the present perfect continuous form. Presumably, the preceding "had to" is just a periphrastic modal meaning the same as...

Hello LCChang First I'd like to tell you that, in current English, " would ", " could ", " might ", can be used along with " will " and " may " as a modal of the present tense when they are used to refer to the degree of certainty of a future event . So, either of the following is correct: paco

I understand now. Thanks. But I still think it is kindda weird since the word " might " is a past tense modal verb here..the grammar book always tells us we have to use future tense such as will . Unless might is not considered past tense here. Please advise. If I get paid, I will buy you...

I see no grammatical form or semantic meaning in had have had , and googling (a mere 11,000 hits when I tried it) produces not one grammatically reputable webpage. I can envision I'd have had being misinterpreted as had have had by those who confuse had rather and would rather -- but those would...