Why does this sentence use the conditional

Question

"He walked as fast as the undergrowth and snowdrifts would allow"What is the justification for the conditional in the second half of the sentence?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

arbizonne"He walked as fast as the undergrowth and snowdrifts would allow"

What is the justification for the conditional in the second half of the sentence?

Tough question. In some ways, it is not really a conditional, but an expression of willingness. That is, it calls back the original meaning of would as an expression of volition -- an expression of will -- rather than its more abstract use as a modal verb used to create a conditional idea. Oddly, in this pattern, it somewhat personifies inanimates. This use of would brings questions like these to mind:

How willing (or cooperative) was the undergrowth? How willing (or cooperative) were the snowdrifts? Were they willing to allow him to walk as fast as he wanted to walk? Were they going to consent to allow him what he wanted?

So, in a subtle way, the would brings in an element of conflict between the will of an agent to complete a task and the "will" of an inanimate to help or hinder this agent.

When you use would allow, you look at the situation as if you were in the past, looking into the unknown future of that past moment. It's as if would allow meant was/were willing to allow; consented to allow. Hence,

He walked as fast as the undergrowth and snowdrifts were willing to allow him to do so.

Of course no one takes this literally. It's only a metaphoric way of showing a certain amount of conflict inherent in the situation. Man against nature, if you want to look at it that way.

(I highly recommend that you Google "as * as * would allow". You'll see millions of examples of this idiom. Note that "as ... as ..." is part of the pattern.)

Here's one that was in the news recently:

Bernanke said the Fed was moving as fast as procedure would allow.

CJ

P.S. This is a subtle point. Other forum members may have entirely different ways of explaining it.

Philip · Answer

Great explanation, CJ!

I think I feel another meaning in the undertow: that of 'used to', in the descriptive sense. We often use 'would' when we mean 'used to' (When I was a kid I would stay out until midnight). Perhaps this affects the description (the procedure was allowing). ??? Just a thought.

Arbizonne · Answer

Marvellous. What a brilliant explanation, and I've even learned a new Google trick with the asterisks. Thanks so much.

CalifJim · Answer

arbizonnea new Google trick with the asterisks

Oh, yes! That's a good trick!

You're welcome.

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

PhilipWe often use 'would' when we mean 'used to' (When I was a kid I would stay out until midnight).

Quite true. But do the Google exercise I suggested above, and on each Google hit, read it though as it is originally, and then again, substituting "used to allow" for "would allow". Give yourself time to introspect further and see if you still think the would in those Googled examples is the "same" would as shown in your quoted example above.

I tried this and decided that the two would's were different, but you may reach a different conclusion. Or you may discover a way of showing how the two are related. I was not able to make any "break-throughs" in that direction.

CJ

Why does this sentence use the conditional

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