Search results for 'tag:Numbers tag:Conditionals' matching tags 'Numbers' and 'Conditionals'

Re: Modal "could"

CalifJim — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 05:15:00 GMT

Anonymous
How are they different? I think the number one use of "could" could be described as the past of "can" and the number two use can be described as, what I can say, an ellipted conditional structure. Right?

That seems reasonable.

Anonymous
With the modal "could," I don't think you ~~can't~~ can denote present? ability although it is possible to denote past ability. Right?

I'm not sure what you are asking, but if you intended the word "present", which I added, then again, what you say seems reasonable.

Modal "could"

Anonymous — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:13:08 GMT

Hi,
How are they different? I think the number one use of "could" could be described as the past of "can" and the number two use can be described as, what I can say, an ellipted conditional structure. Right? With the modal "could," I think you can't denote ability although possible to denote past ability. Right?

1.I thought you could do the job and I was right.

2. I think you could do the job right, not the person who came before you.

Re: Exam prepartion CAE Use of English Part 5

Tanit — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 14:18:08 GMT

Hi,

I'm not sure everybody here understands what type of exercise you're referring to. I assume you are talking about the new format of the CAE, which will be introduced starting from December 2008, so I'm posting an excerpt from the CAE handbook for teachers about part 5 (key word transformation) of paper 3 (English in Use).

Each question contains three parts: a lead-in sentence, a key word, and a second sentence of which only the beginning and end are given. Candidates have to fill the gap in the second sentence so that the completed sentence is similar in meaning to the lead-in sentence. The gap must be filled with between three and six words, one of which must be the key word. The key word must not be changed in any way.
In this part of the paper the focus is both lexical and grammatical and a range of structures is tested. The ability to express a message in different ways shows flexibility and resource in the use of language.

Here are some examples from the CAE handbook for candidates:

1 There were a lot of things that we had to think about before we could accept their offer.
    OBLIGED
    There were several things that we â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦..â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦.. consideration before we could accept their offer.

2   Do you think you could help me to fill in this application form?
    WONDERING
    I â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦..â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦.. me a hand filling in this application form.

3    I know that it was wrong of me to shout in front of the customers.
    RAISED
    I know that I should â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦..â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦.. in front of the customers.

4 If you need any help, you can always call me.
    HESITATE
    If you need any help, â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦..â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦â¦.. me.

As for your questions:

a) As a general rule, the tense in your sentence should mach that of the given sentence. For instance, in example no. 1 the original sentence has "... we had to think about ...", so I'd write "...we were obliged..." (both past simple). However, generalisations are dangerous, so if you're having problems with specific examples, I'd suggest you post them!

b) Yes, I have taken the CAE, but up to last June this exercise was not part of the CAE. However, I also took the FCE, which contained the key word transformation exercise.

c) My piece of advice: don't pay attention only to the meaning of the sentence! Be also careful about the number of words you use (which must be between 3 and 6), especially when using contractions. "Don't", "haven't", "I'm" and the like equal two words each (sorry, not sure about the grammar of this sentence! ), while "can't" only accounts for one word (because it stands for "cannot" => 1 word only).

Did I answer your questions? (Sorry, I'm not clear about the "conditionals" part in your sentence "Do you have some advise to find the solution with conditionals at this part.")

Re: Unreal condition in the past

Anonymous — Sun, 21 Sep 2008 11:42:01 GMT

Hi,
Would these be considered counfactual (Does counfactual mean contrary to the fact? Can we assume the word 'hypothetical' as having the same meaning as the term "counfactual" with a notion of a past event with the "general present" -- as you have coined (termed?) it? I see two terms used to explain number 2 conditionals and wonder if they have the same general meaning.)?

I believe these are mixed conditionals.

If Sam spoke English, he would have gotten the job.

If I put the phrase "back then," I am uncertain if it still has that "on-going" (to the present) notion.

If Sam spoke English back then, he would have gotten the job.

Re: Some very basic grammar questions

CalifJim — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 17:40:49 GMT

They are all correct.

For lengthier discussions with lots of examples of the use of the past perfect tense after before,

see Re: before past perfect tense , past tense and Re: Past Simple or Past Perfect.

This is a common pattern for expressing "interruptive relationships" between actions. (Leaving university "interrupts" the normal course of events which would have led to exams; the sacking "interrupts" the normal course of events which would have led to an explanation of the behavior.) The main clause contains the "interrupting" action. The before clause contains the "interrupted" action. Because the interrupted action has not taken place, the past perfect may be considered a way of expressing a counterfactual, that is, it may be considered a subjunctive with family resemblances to the if clause of the third conditional, thus: if I had taken the final exam or if he had had a chance to explain.

Re: what is the grammatical structure of this sentence?

Avangi — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 04:16:44 GMT

Hi rakib, Welcome to the English Forums!

You'll have to wait for an ESL expert to give you the inside scoop on conditionals and references.

If you stay, you will find out what I mean. Only if you stay will you find out what I mean. If you stay you will find out what I mean, but that's the only way.

IF the marginal benefit and cost are as close as possible to being equal, THEN the community will have the optimal number of schools, and that's the only way.

Sorry, but your underlined solution to the sentence is not grammatical.

Best wishes, - A.

Number 2 conditional?

Anonymous — Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:07:54 GMT

Please tell me if they are number 2 conditionals or just a conditional or a gentle request or possibly a wrong conditonal

1. If you have some salt, would you pass it to me?
2. If you have some salt, you would pass it to me, wouldn't you?
3. If you had some salt, would you pass it to me?

Re: VERSATILE FIRST CONDITIONAL?

CalifJim — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 02:03:14 GMT

Your research is leading you to see that there is no complete agreement about what the terms "first, second, and third conditional" mean.

This is not mathematics, where every book you read says the same thing: 2 + 2 = 4.

This is grammar, where every author has his own opinion of what makes a first, second, or third conditional. These are not exact terms like "even number" and "odd number".

I think it may be time for you to move on to some other area of study before you drive yourself crazy.

Re: tense dilemma

Mister Micawber — Sun, 22 Jun 2008 08:20:38 GMT

.
I'm sorry, but your conglomeration of poorly structured example sentences and confused numbers makes it unclear to me what you are asking. Nor are your following questions particularly lucid. I can tell you that 'would fail' is conditional 2, which is a present form.

Perhaps if you revised and simplified your post, I could address your other concerns.

Re: If I had listened to you

Huevos — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:57:21 GMT

New2grammar
Oh no. I didn't buy a lottery ticket (?? This means any ticket of any lottery. How to be specific to the lottery his friend advised)

You could say "Oh no. I didn't buy that lottery ticket".

New2grammar
Why is there a condition? "supposing that the numbers had been selected before the draw"

The winning number was drawn, say, yesterday, and matched the number his friend advised him to buy

The condition is that the if clause may be fulfilled. In your sentences it is already impossible to fulfil the if clause making the sentences purely hypothesis. This is known as a type III conditional and is formed thus: if + past perfect + would + have + past participle. A conditional formed with if + simple past is known as a type II conditional and is used where it is still possible to fulfil the if clause however unlikely that may be.