By Conditionals, Conversations

The first sentence means essentially the same as "...can/will you lend me some?", but "could/would" has the effect of "softening" the request -- making it seem less direct. The use of "happen to have" (as opposed to just "have") makes no...

Hi allI see nothing wrong with the above sentence. It's a polite request; could makes it a little more polite than can, at least in theory. In actual conversation very much depends on the tone of voice, of course.CB

.It is possible that any of them could be uttered in conversation. None of them seem natural or expected. The first two are grammatical and Conditional 1. The third sentence is unacceptable in written English.I might say. "If I have to call your mother, fathead, you won't get a...

I know 'would' carries many meanings. My problem is sometimes I find it difficult to tell which meaning the speaker uses. I think I understand its hypothetical usage, and in some contexts, its politeness usage. Below is a post that has several woulds I have trouble interpreting. I also...

I believe we have many discussions on the conditional questions and if I remember correctly, we never come to a unanimous agreement, simply because of interpretation differences and how the question is structured. Reading this one, I agree with Marious on and also from my angle, is possilbe as...

Wow CalifJim, thanks to you I now completely understand the usage! I owe you a lot! I would say that these became mixed conditionals through the substitution of were for had been, which is a common substitution, especially in everyday conversation. I would say that the 'original'...

The first one seems wrong at the end. Let me change it a little. Make another post if you still have a question about that last bit of the first one, OK? 1 "If it hadn't have been for the accident, I wouldn't have had to report late for work." 2 "If it wouldn't have been for the...

I would say that these became mixed conditionals through the substitution of were for had been, which is a common substitution, especially in everyday conversation. I would say that the 'original' thoughts and meanings were: If you had been paying attention, it wouldn't have happened. If...

Hi Bokeh, Becasue of your reply, it made me take a second look at the original question. I also did some research and found this paper written on the subject of Semantic Composition of Subjunctive Conditionals by Michela Ippolito of MIT/Tübingen University. I am not completely sure if I...

Hello Kooyeen 1. I'd like to go to Jenny's party ----> He said he would like to go to Jenny's party (I would say this is ok only if Jenny hasn't had the party yet) — It's also possible that someone would say this, if the party had already happened; but I think your interpretation is more...