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By Conditionals, Present tenses

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Re: past perfect vs past in if-clause in type 2 conditional

Let's spread out the issue a little bit: ____ O ____ Type 2. Basic forms. a. If we caught the 10 o'clock train, we would (could, might, etc.) get there by lunch-time. b. If I came into a fortune, I would give up smoking. c. If I knew how it worked, I could tell...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by yulysess 1 yr 67 days ago Regards Grammar Verbs Constructions Tenses Clauses Present tenses Past perfect Modals Expressions Universities Past tenses Conditionals English grammar Modal verbs

Re: "shall" and "will" for 18th century readers: interchangeable?

Ok, I got it but I don't know how to put the link here so i'll just paste the context here. This was given by CalifJim as response to the subject "Conditional with Modal Verbs"... Strictly speaking, the modals are not tensed. However, they developed historically...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by

Intelligent Freak 1 yr 71 days ago

Verbs Tenses Clauses Present tenses Modals Past tenses Conditionals Modal verbs Images

Re: If clause question

Would it be OK if has become a set phrase used for politeness. The conditionality of the word if is almost absent, and the phrase is in reality just a weaker, more tentative version of Is it OK if. Because of this, it seems to have the force of a present tense in meaning, if not in form. I...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by CalifJim 1 yr 83 days ago Tenses Clauses Present tenses Conditionals Mixed conditionals
Re: "It won't do you any/much good ..." Thank you.

New2grammar wrote:From what I learned, 'will' must be paired up with the present tense, 'say'. I think it's called Type 1 conditional. And 'would' must be paired up with the past tense,'said' (Type 2 conditional). Thanks for pointing out my mistake on any vs much. I've learned something new. ...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by Yankee 1 yr 87 days ago Grammar Tenses Present tenses Past tenses Conditionals
Re: "It won't do you any/much good ..." Thank you.

From what I learned, 'will' must be paired up with the present tense, 'say'. I think it's called Type 1 conditional. And 'would' must be paired up with the past tense,'said' (Type 2 conditional). Thanks for pointing out my mistake on any vs much. I've learned something new.

ESL General English Grammar Questions by New2grammar 1 yr 87 days ago Tenses Present tenses Past tenses Conditionals
Re: They'd be the ones that spoiled... or would spoil?

Yankee wrote:No, I wouldn't change to "would spoil" or "would be spoiling". That would be a change to a conditional form of 'will'.Humans will spoil the world and exploit every resource. If animals were more intelligent than us, they'd be the ones that would spoil the world and exploit...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by Kooyeen 1 yr 91 days ago Simple present Tenses Present tenses Past tenses Conditionals
Re: I'm dancing like I was a professional dancer

Hi Marcelle, Marcelle wrote:I would say # 2 and 4 are the correct ones, 'as if' implies an unreal state, therefore you should use a past tense (refer to 2nd and 3rd conditionals) Yeah, but present tenses are fine too, if not better on second thought. Normally a noun is used after 'like' and...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by Kooyeen 1 yr 161 days ago Grammar Tenses Clauses Nouns Present tenses Past tenses Conditionals
Re: Clause and use of Tenses

Jackson6612 wrote:I remember once my teacher told me that when Present Tense is used in first clause then Present Tense will also be used in second clause. I don't know what does this actually mean? Please explain it. Thank you That doesn't make sense. Even in conditional sentences ("if you go...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by Philip 1 yr 208 days ago Tenses Clauses Present tenses Conditionals
Re: Present and Past Tense of the Verb "To Be"

«If the reporting verb is in past tense, then the reported verb is backshifted to past tense.» Personally I don't like definitions like this and consider them as hindering from real understanding. Anyway, I'd correct it as follows: «... then the reported verb is shifted one tense...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by Ant_222 1 yr 224 days ago Verbs Tenses Clauses Present tenses Past tenses Conditionals
Re: Present and Past Tense of the Verb "To Be"

I must say that your answers are different from what I have expected. As far as I know, the definition of backshifting is as follows: If the reporting verb is in past tense, then the reported verb is backshifted to past tense. "I like music." --->> John said that he liked music.In the...

ESL General English Grammar Questions by DavidS 1 yr 225 days ago Verbs Tenses Present tenses Past tenses Conditionals