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Anonymous Posted 8 years ago
Grammar

Conditionals

I'm learning conditional sentences..., in the sentence:
If cars could fly, we would commute faster.
why the verb "fly" is not in "simple past"?

  

Top answer

anonymous why the verb "fly" is not in "simple past"? Because "could" does that job. I read "could", here, as the past form of "can".

— Tkacka15

  • anonymous why the verb "fly" is not in "simple past"?
  • Because "could" does that job.
  • I read "could", here, as the past form of "can".
  • So, you've got both verb phrases (in the main and if-clause) in the past tense.
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2 Answers
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anonymouswhy the verb "fly" is not in "simple past"?
Because "could" does that job. I read "could", here, as the past form of "can". So, you've got both verb phrases (in the main and if-clause) in the past tense.
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anonymousWhy the verb "fly" is not in "simple past"?

Please remember to invert subject and verb in a question. Here is how to write you question:

Why is the verb "fly" not in the simple past?

Answer: We never use the past after a modal verb.
Modal verbs include will, wo

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