In Present tenses^x, Modals^x, Constructions^x

Let's spread out the issue a little bit: ____ O ____ Type 2. Basic forms. a. If we caught the 10 o'clock train, we would (could, might, etc.) get there by lunch-time. b. If I came into a fortune, I would give up smoking. c. If I knew how it worked, I could tell...

When we talk about a subjunctive construction, I think it is easier to understand it without the 'inserted clause, I would think' becasue that way one can clearly see the cause-and-effect relationship beteween the conditional clause and the main clasue. 1. If someone tells you that you may...

JT: Using would have made the conditional fall somwhere on a scale of more improbable to impossible in the speaker's mind. MrP: I would be interested to hear your description of this distinct nuance. JT: allows for a greater possibility; illustrates that the speaker is saying that "the...