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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Questions on the use of modal verb "would"
Please help me with these.
1. Would you say this use of the modal verb "would" in this context (story telling) is correct? It it was, what would say its function is? future in the past? any other?
There were three guys who lost their ways in a thick forest. Realizing how important it is to act quickly, each person was assignment a job or two to do. One person would watch over the other two while the slept at night and another would ...
2. Could we look at the underlined questions as second conditional sentences, just like the conditional sentences before them (but without if-clauses but assume to be part of the questions)? Also, for the underlined questions, are we saying things in the present-time setting?
1. Would you pull over to help if you saw someone hurt his leg? Would you stay with him until the help arrives?
2. If you were king, and had the resources and abilities to do pretty much anything in your country, how would you help the poor in your country? How would you get started? What would do right away?
1. Would you say this use of the modal verb "would" in this context (story telling) is correct? It it was, what would say its function is? future in the past? any other?
There were three guys who lost their ways in a thick forest. Realizing how important it is to act quickly, each person was assignment a job or two to do. One person would watch over the other two while the slept at night and another would ...
2. Could we look at the underlined questions as second conditional sentences, just like the conditional sentences before them (but without if-clauses but assume to be part of the questions)? Also, for the underlined questions, are we saying things in the present-time setting?
1. Would you pull over to help if you saw someone hurt his leg? Would you stay with him until the help arrives?
2. If you were king, and had the resources and abilities to do pretty much anything in your country, how would you help the poor in your country? How would you get started? What would do right away?
Top answer
1) "Would" is used correctly in that sentence. "would" is often used to indicate repeated action in the past. 2) a) Would you stay with him until the help arrives?
- 1) "Would" is used correctly in that sentence.
- "would" is often used to indicate repeated action in the past.
- 2) a) Would you stay with him until the help arrives?
- (this is merely a polite request) b) How would you get started?
- What would you do right away?
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1 Answers
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1) "Would" is used correctly in that sentence. "would" is often used to indicate repeated action in the past.
2)
a) Would you stay with him until the help arrives? (this is merely a polite request)
b) How would you get started? What would you do right away? (conditional II questions; the if-clause is missing/implied)
2)
a) Would you stay with him until the help arrives? (this is merely a polite request)
b) How would you get started? What would you do right away? (conditional II questions; the if-clause is missing/implied)
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