Is it common to have a present tense modal verb that states something you are about to do, rather than something you are doing at the time it was written? For example, in sentence a, the tense explains actions that are currently happening

You're getting into a rat's nest of terminology here. Different authors have different ways of classifying verbs, tenses, and clauses. Modal verbs may be seen as a subclass of finite verbs, for example. Also, some authors prefer

Thanks! Is this correct: Finite verbs have tense (simple present, perfect, continuous etc), which express a time. Modal verbs have modal tenses (modal tense and modal perfect tense), which express a time.

Does anybody here know of a rule that doesn't involve looking at "would" as a conditional? Yes. It's the rule that governs all modal verbs regardless of their use or meaning. A modal verb must be followed by a base form (that is,

1) Modal tenses (modal + bare infinitive) can express different times, but not tenses--is that correct? Yes, I would say so. 2) Also, if they can express different times, how is one to know what time it refers to in a particular sentence? Your

1) How is it functioning below (I've asked this elsewhere and received no consistent answer)? Having found me to be an alcoholic, she did not like me and so spurned my offer. But I would attempt to warm up to her . It functions as the

Hi, Modal verbs are for example may , can , must , should , need . They express an ability, permission, wish etc. to do something. (I may, can, must swim.) Many modal verbs cannot be used in all of the English tenses. That's why we need

I f we could ask for your cooperation, would you all please remain seated until your row has been called. ... which category does it fit into: first or second conditional? Neither. There are thousands of sentences with if that do not fall into one

I f we could ask for your cooperation, would you all please remain seated until your row has been called.” The first conditional uses the present tense in the if clause and will + infinitive in the result clause, whereas the second

I think your confusion lies in the modal / helping word usage in relation to the verb form. If you can remember this, it will help eliminate some of this kind of problem. All verbs must stay in their base form immediately after a model or