Search results for 'tag:Present tenses tag:Conditionals' matching tags 'Present tenses' and 'Conditionals'

Re: Use of the modal 'would'

CalifJim — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 02:05:39 GMT

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 [like / love] to go with you.

They do not change when reported in the past tense.

I said that I would [like / love] to go with you.

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There is really no need to appeal to the concepts of ellipsis or conditionals. Idioms are word combinations that break all the rules and make rules of their own!

But if you insist upon seeing the situation that way, the implied if clause is in the infinitive of the idiom, so that you have an implied conditional like this:

I would like/love to go with you =~ If I went with you, I would like/love that.

Re: is this conditional possible?

CalifJim — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 18:07:42 GMT

Anonymous
tell me if we could have the modal 'would' after an if-clause in present tense

You will see it and hear it from time to time, but the canonical form is with the if-clause in the past, as Mr. M. has illustrated above.

is this conditional possible?

Anonymous — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 00:30:30 GMT

Hi,

Please tell me if we could have the modal 'would' after an if-clause in present tense.

If you make some cookies, I should/would be happy/delighted.

Re: same conditional?

CalifJim — Fri, 05 Sep 2008 17:24:58 GMT

I don't really know exactly why I said "wrong" in one place and "awkward" in another!

Your question in the other thread seemed to focus on mixed conditionals, and I didn't want to leave you with the impression that all mixed conditionals are wrong. Maybe that's why I said "awkward". Here's a better example:

If you had paid attention in Japanese class when you were in college, you would be able to translate for us on our trip to Japan this coming fall.

Perhaps I should revise my opinion on your example below. The problem, I think, is lack of context. This sentence can work in the right context. It's rare for that context to come up, I think, so on first reading it sounds completely wrong as an isolated sentence.

I would be happy if no one had been there.

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would like is an entirely different case, because it's an idiom for want. Here the would is not necessarily taken as the would of a conditional pattern, but as a simple present tense. That's why the idiomatic combination would like can go in the if clause.

Take it if you would like to have it = Take it if you want (to have) it.

like, on its own, is somewhat different in meaning from would like.

Take it if you like it. = Take it if it pleases you.

You can use would like with the would of the conditional pattern and like of being pleasing, but that works differently, like this:

If you tried it, you would like it. = If you tried it, it would please you.

Re: please help me with the following tense issue

Fandorin — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 11:13:22 GMT

Hi Seraphin.

Can I make it all in the present tense IF the investigation has occurred ? You can use present tense in principle clause only if you're talking about main truths and facts, it's also called zero conditional

if ... present tense ...present tense.. "If you read a lot you reaches enough to work in huge company"

First conditional is used to talk about real possibilities in present and future or generally.

if ... present tense.. will...bare infinitive... "If you're working hard you will get good marks on your exams "

Sometimes you can use past tense in both parts of sentence in case you're talking about past but it's used rare.

(a-1)To assess if heroin plays any role in causing depression, we first will investigate if heroin users suffer episodes of depression. OK.

(b-1)To assess if heroin plays any role in causing depression, we first investigated if heroin users suffered episodes of depression. Wrong.

(c-1)To assess if heroin plays any role in causing depression, we first investigated if heroin users suffer episodes of depression. Wrong.

Re: Conditional

Kooyeen — Thu, 21 Aug 2008 18:28:59 GMT

Hi,
I think conditional structures are pretty flexible. There are more than just three of them, and it is sometimes difficult to classify them. In addition, tenses are often mixed up that way in speech or non-edited writing. Also, "could" with present tenses doesn't bother me, or at least not as much as "would" in the same kinds of structures.

That said, I'm not a native speaker, so you might want to wait for someone else.

Re: would or will love

Huevos — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 17:00:40 GMT

New2grammar
Suggest a model that you think will/would bring the aircraft to 10,000 feet.

By model what do you mean? Engine?

New2grammar
I wanted to ask you to fill in the if parts and those are my takes.

It's not that simple because the main verb of the conditional clause is "think" (present tense). "Love" is a subordinate verb of the conditional clause.

Re: If you haven't .... I woud

Anonymous — Mon, 14 Jul 2008 07:26:32 GMT

Hi,

What is the difference?

I hope you've seen it, but if you hadn't (haven't), I'd love to run it for you now.

I think the 'hadn't' version is a type 2 conditional (unreal). To me, using a present tense in the if-clause is new. How does it work?

Is this good?
If you have money, I would love to borrow some from you.

Re: conditional

CalifJim — Fri, 04 Jul 2008 02:59:55 GMT

Anonymous
Would you please let me know as soon as possible if you would like to attend this seminar.

Correct.

Anonymous
If you would hand me that spoon, I will/would appreciate it.

would OK, not will.

Anonymous
If you would give me a pen,I would give you a pencil.

Just barely OK. More idiomatic with will, thus: If you'll give me a pen, I'll give you a pencil.

Anonymous
He looks as if he is about to cry. - first conditional?
He looked as if he were going to cry.- second conditional?

I'm not aware of any classification of the as if constructions into first, second, and third. From what I've seen, they can parallel the first, second, and third conditionals in their tense patterns, but usage is much more free. That is, they don't always conform strictly to those numbered conditional patterns. Like so many other cases, the "past" form can be borrowed into a present tense setting, thus: He looks as if he were about to cry.

Re: functionality of would and could in the present and past

CalifJim — Tue, 01 Jul 2008 07:37:49 GMT

Are they wrong since the modal usages lack the fundamental conditional uses of the modals 'would' and 'could'? Not sure what you're asking. The correct sequence of tenses applies to conditionals as well as to non-conditionals.

1. We are all watching in a sort of stunned silence waiting to see if we would be asked for money or if we are simply his audience.
No conditional element present, thus 'will' is correct? Right? will is correct, but not for the reason that no conditional element is present. will is correct because will goes with are.

2. While I am reading it, I could not help being concerned about young people in this country.
Same here too. No conditional element present, so 'can' is correct? Right or wrong? Same here. can is correct because it goes with the present tense I am.

So, except those modal uses like politeness for 'would', most modal uses of 'would' and 'could' involve conditional nature. Right or wrong? It depends on the text you're reading. You may find a text that uses would or could in non-conditional contexts quite often.

Could you please answer these? -- case of a modal use for politeness. True.

Generally, will and can go with the present tense; would and could go with the past tense. It doesn't matter whether they are used in a conditional pattern or not.

Henry wants to know where he can find a good restaurant. / Henry wanted to know where he could find a good restaurant.

Kate needs a dress that will make her look slim. / Kate wanted a dress that would make her look slim.

If they sign the contract, they can take possession of the car immediately. / If they signed the contract, they could take possession of the car immediately.

If he hurries, he will arrive on time. / If he hurried, he would arrive on time.

_________________

Occasionally would and could go with the present tense, but these should be regarded as special cases. For example, take the idiom would like to:

I would like to buy the coat which is on sale.

The would and could of politeness are also usually combined with the present tense.

Could you please help me move these books which are lying on the floor?