By Present tenses, Conditionals

conditional

Hi, Are these all examples of the first conditional? If a if-clause is in the present tense, then any modal verbs can be used and it would still be a first conditional sentence? A zero conditional sentence is the one only states general rules and can't use modal verbs? All first...

Re: Archaic Past Conditional?

Many thanks for the response, but I'm not sure how it can be correct - and this is almost entirely my fault for not setting out an example well enough. In the coffin quotation, I believe that it can't simply be a subjunctive mood form because, by inserting 'we thought' into it,...

Re: sentence

I think you're right. For some reason, my heart prefers the present tense(unreal)? I know it contradicts with "10 years ago". The third conditional is also unreal in that you would always be referring to something that did not happen. It would be fine if without a time in the...

Re: Modals in conditional sentences

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"...

Would and could; in past or not?

Hi, Can the words 'could' and 'would' be used to express ' possibiliry' and 'conditional intention' respectively in both present and past settings? I think it can. CalifJim wrote this in one of his responses in the tread named 'would, would have/ could ,...

Re: Condtitional tense

Hi AvangiTo me, the word 'if' is used like 'whenever' in your sentence, and the word 'will' is used to indicate a habitual or repeated action (i.e. in that sentence, you are saying it is not your habit to wonder about things such as closed doors while you are on vacation)....

confused about 'would'

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...

Re: subjunctive-contextually clear?

You be here at 9 tomorrow to work on what is left.This is a form of the imperative mood-- a command.Yes, needed is in the past, and I believe that is how I edited your sentence in my previous post:2. He warned that his friend needed to get away from the flammable substance.He warned that the toy...

Re: Sequence of tenses (#4)

Belly wrote:But will that violate the conditional structure? Not really! We use conditional statements to express propability. Here is a quick summary: 1. If the certainty is 100% (time independent), use present tense If you don’t eat, you get hungry. ...

Re: if-clause (future)

Welkins2139 wrote: " if clauses " ( also called adverb clause of condition) present possible condition. The main clause express results. 1. If you study in a foreign country, what do you need to do? a present tense, not a future tense, is used in an if clause, even though the verb in the...