In Modals^x, Clauses^x, Past tenses^x

I think you are over-analyzing. would like with an infinitive is an idiom expressing desire. would love is an emphatic form of would like . They are both used as if they were present tenses. I would to go with you. __ There is really no need to appeal to the concepts of ellipsis or...

Is this a second conditional? I think in second conditional, the tense in the if-clause should be in the past tense and does the modal qualifies as that in the second conditional? When we could afford, we would get take-out fried chicken. Can we use the modal both in the if-clause and main...

Hi, 1. Would you say if a person is reporting on a content that is permanent, on-going, or relevant in content nature, the reporting word could be both present and past and also, do you feel both present and past tenses are OK in the that -clause? He said/says his house is/was in Chicago. He...

Hi, 1.Mr. Wordy wrote this response for a thread named "conditional": 1. The priests had to look after their own fellowship with God if they were to minister to others -- suggests that they probably did look after their own fellowship with God and consquently did minister to...

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"...

Cool Breeze wrote: Hi Belly 1) You could use to get as well. Both the full infinitive (to get) and the plain/bare infintive (get) are correct after do in sentences like yours. There is an old song All I Have To Do Is Dream. It could just as well be All I Have To Do Is To Dream. 2) Not one is...

Hi Belly 1) You could use to get as well. Both the full infinitive (to get) and the plain/bare infintive (get) are correct after do in sentences like yours. There is an old song All I Have To Do Is Dream. It could just as well be All I Have To Do Is To Dream. 2) Not one is idiomatic and...

A) Are there any verbs that are usually not backshifted, and the whole sentence is rearranged instead? I think you mentioned "should". For example, if someone says "I should see a doctor", the reported version would be "He said he had to see a doctor" or "He said he'd better see a doctor" or...

1 - I need some money. ----> I met Kelly. She needed some money. She said she needed some money. //Also: I met kelly. She needs some money. She said she needs some money. All of this is fine. 2 - If I had the money, I would give it to you. ----> I met Bob. He didn't have the...

Kilimanjaro wrote: Hello Cool Breeze, This sentence is taken from Michael SWAN's Practical English Usage. He says "might" can be used in such contexts Hi Kilimanjaro Yes, I know it's from that book. You mentioned it in a previous post. I didn't say it was right or wrong in my opinion. I...