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Anonymous Posted 18 years ago
Grammar
Use of modal 'could' in conditional sentences
Is this a second conditional? I think in second conditional, the tense in the if-clause should be in the past tense and does the modal qualifies as that in the second conditional?
When we could afford, we would get take-out fried chicken.
Can we use the modal both in the if-clause and main clause for these what look to be first conditionals?
When/If you could afford, can you lend me some money?
When/If I have some money, I could lend you some money.
When we could afford, we would get take-out fried chicken.
Can we use the modal both in the if-clause and main clause for these what look to be first conditionals?
When/If you could afford, can you lend me some money?
When/If I have some money, I could lend you some money.
Top answer
-- This is fine 2nd conditional . -- It is sometimes possible if the 'could' is being used as the polite form of 'can', not the past, like this: When/If you can afford it, could you lend me some money? When/If I have some money, I could lend you some.
- -- This is fine 2nd conditional .
- -- It is sometimes possible if the 'could' is being used as the polite form of 'can', not the past, like this: When/If you can afford it, could you lend me some money?
- When/If I have some money, I could lend you some.
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6 Answers
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When we could afford it, we would get take-out fried chicken.-- This is fine 2nd conditional.
Can we use the modal both in the if-clause and main clause for these what look to be first conditionals?-- It is sometimes possible if the 'could' is being used as the polite form of 'can', not the past, like this:
When/If you can afford it, could
When we could afford it, we would get take-out fried chicken.-- This is fine 2nd conditional.
Can we use the modal both in the if-clause and main clause for these what look to be first conditionals?-- It is sometimes possible if the 'could' is being used as the polite form of 'can', not the past, like this:
When/If you can afford it, could
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Hi. How could we know if the modal is serving/acting as the polite version of the modal verb "can" or serving/acting to denote possibility? Does the modal verb "could" in the following sentence, which seems to be a second conditional sentence, denote possibility? I think it does. Thank you for your anticipated help.
If I had this, I could do that.
If I had this, I could do that.
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Let me answer. The first hint is tense in an if-clause. If it's past, therefore it's impossible and doesn't denote any possibility. If it's present, then it's politer version of "can".
Anonymouswhich seems to be a second conditional sentenceIt doesn't seem, it is a second conditional.
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AnonymousIs this a second conditional? I think in second conditional, the tense in the if-clause should be in the past tense and does the modalYou speak of "the tense in the ifqualifiesqualify as that in the second conditional?
When we could afford, we would get take-out fried chicken.
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Hi. Are you saying the following sentence with the modal verb "could" in the main clause, which you corrected denotes the polite form of the modal verb "could"? Thank you for your help in advance.
When/If I have some money, I could lend you some. .
When/If I have some money, I could lend you some. .
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