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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

If clause with modals

Hello,

I understand we can't use the future in an if-clause conditional like "If I will/would teach you, ...". However, I was wondering if we could use other modals like 'could', 'can', 'may', might, should. Do you think so?

Are these correct?

If I can touch you, I will be happy.
If I might speak, you will understand.

Sometimes I hear the expression 'if i may add', is this not correct?

Thank you.
  

Top answer

Anonymous If I can touch you, I will be happy. If I might speak, you will understand. Sometimes I hear the expression 'if i may add', is this not correct?

— Avangi

  • Anonymous If I can touch you, I will be happy.
  • If I might speak, you will understand.
  • Sometimes I hear the expression 'if i may add', is this not correct?
  • These are common.
  • ).
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32 Answers
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AnonymousIf I can touch you, I will be happy.
If I might speak, you will understand.

Sometimes I hear the expression 'if i may add', is this not correct?
These are common.

"If I may/might add," is usually casual - conversational - especially when used in the middle of a sentence (
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AnonymousI was wondering if we could use other modals like 'could', 'can', 'may', might, should. Do you think so?
Yes. Under the right conditions you can use any of the modals in an if clause; however, some of them give the impression an old-fashioned style.

can and could are probably the most common.

You'll feel right
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Thank you, Avangi and CJ. Your explanations were really helpful.
AvangiI think it would be safe to say that your examples all refer to future time.
Could you please explain further? Isn't 'might' referring to past time, though 'will' refers to future time in my example sentence "If I might speak, you will understand"?

Is it possible and
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AnonymousYou'll feel right at home in Mexico if you could speak Spanish.
You would feel right at home in Mexico if you can speak Spanish.
No, no, no!

can goes with will; could goes with would.

Any exceptions you see to this pattern are either wrong or exceptions! Don't invent your own exceptions!
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AnonymousYou'll feel right at home in Mexico if you could speak Spanish.
You would feel right at home in Mexico if you can speak Spanish.
The first one surely doesn't work, but the second one sounds perfectly natural to my ear.
Perhaps "exception" is in the ear of the "hearer."
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AnonymousCould you please explain further? Isn't 'might' referring to past time, though 'will' refers to future time in my example sentence "If I might speak, you will understand"?
The danged modals have various meanings.
In this usage, you're asking permission to speak in the future.
"If I might have a word with you, Miss Jones." To tell the truth
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AvangiPerhaps "exception" is in the ear of the "hearer." Emotion: wink
There's always one in every crowd!
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CalifJimutter chaos
I feel your pain, but mine comes from knowing that when accompanied by context, these things wouldn't raise an eyebrow.
Life is contextual, isn't it?
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Avangiwhen accompanied by context, these things wouldn't raise an eyebrow.
True. I don't deny the data.

But examining this sentence:

You would feel right at home in Mexico if you can speak Spanish.

you have to admit that it is an exception to this "rule":

can goes with will; could goes with would.
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CalifJimyou have to admit that it is an exception to this "rule":

can goes with will; could goes with would.
Yes, I do. I suppose the person I have the bone to pick with is the one who wrote the rule.

I'll give your challenge some thought.

Thanks, - A.
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