Would

Question

Hello,Why is "WOULD" used in the below statement?The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you WOULD generally do in imaginary situations.Thank you

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

MFarooqWhy is "WOULD" used in the below statement?

"in imaginary situations" is the implied if-statement.

what you would do if you were in an imaginary situation

CJ

MFarooq · Answer

Hi Sir,
Is the following sentence correct?

If you review your policy, I WOULD appreciate it.

Does the WOULD part belong to Future Unreal Conditional? If so, then what would be if clause?

Thank you

CalifJim · Answer

MFarooqIs the following sentence correct?If you review your policy, I WOULD appreciate it.

Yes, but it's more commonly said as follows.

I would appreciate it if you review(ed) your policy.

MFarooqDoes the WOULD part belong to Future Unreal Conditional?

It seems so, but the terminology is not that important.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

MFarooqWhy is "WOULD" used in the below statement?The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about what you WOULD generally do in imaginary situations

I'm a non-native and I have to admit that "would" sometimes is a challenge to interpret. My understanding is that "would", its hypothetical meaning in conditional clauses besides, has another one, for example when we're talking about things which we wish we had done as in I'd rather we went home now; I would like to be an actor.

MFarooq · Answer

Hello Teacher,

Is last part of the dialogue correct that I highlighted and underlined? Is speaker B imaging a situation using COULD? And what would be a if clause? I am sorry. I tried to think of if clause but I could not figure out.

A: Are you in pain when you do not move?
B: Not much
A: Ok, I am going to exercise.
B: What
A: Exercise
A: I should be able to lift you, I mean, I could be stronger, if I did exercised, every person should be able to to lift the person she loves, just in case the things like this!
B: Ann do me a favor. Do not any exercises.I really COULD NOT love a girl that COULD lift 175 pounds.

CalifJim · Answer

MFarooqIs last part of the dialogue correct that I highlighted and underlined?

Yes.

MFarooqIs speaker B imaging a situation using COULD?

Yes. I really COULD NOT love a girl that COULD lift 175 pounds.
= I really would not be able to love a girl who was able to lift 175 pounds.

Nothing in this statement makes the claim that any girl like that actually exists within the context of the dialog. Such a girl is completely imaginary.

MFarooqAnd what would be a if clause? I am sorry. I tried to think of if clause but I could not figure out.

It is not necessary to use an if-clause to show that you are imagining a situation. If you wanted to invent one, though, you could use this: If I knew a girl who was able to lift 175, I [would not be able / could not] love her.

CJ

MFarooq · Answer

Hi Sir,

As you mentioned that above conditional sentence was correct. I am confusing because I have a couple of points in my head. Those are

1- There are two kinds of conditional sentences according to Englishpage.com
1- Real conditional
2- Unreal conditional

But in the above condition, real and unreal statements are mixed. And now according to my knowledge, I guess we can not mix real and unreal statements but we can mix real-real and unreal-unreal.

Is this common mistake in conversation?
Or in the result clause WOULD is used just to imagine a situation in the future?

And as you suggested that we could write in the following way.

If you reviewed your policy, I would appreciate it.

What I am understanding from the above statement. Actually, it means that you will not review you policy. Because it is unreal future conditional.

If we write in the following way.

If you review your policy, I will appreciate it.

It means that you will review your policy. Because it is real future conditional.

Please, make me understand.

Thank you

CalifJim · Answer

MFarooqIf you reviewed your policy, I would appreciate it. ... If you review your policy, I will appreciate it.

When it comes to feelings of desire (I would like), preference (I would prefer), and appreciation (I would appreciate), you don't need to observe the rules for conditionals so strictly. These expressions are virtually always used with 'would' instead of 'will' because they connote deference toward the listener, so they don't fall strictly within the rules you learned about real and unreal conditionals. The clause that expresses your feelings usually goes first, so it is more idiomatic in these cases to phrase them thus:

I would [like / prefer / appreciate] it if you [review / reviewed] your policy.

The tense in the if-clause is not very important in these cases. The present is more direct; the past is less direct and thus more deferential and polite.

CJ

MFarooq · Answer

Hi Sir,

What the speakers are trying to say in the dialogues which I highlighted. Are these present (Speaker B) and future (Speaker A) unreal conditional? I have been struggling with these kind of structures. Sometime, I am able to comprehend and sometime not.

A: Oh, Don I am so happy that you are here. I have got some fantastic news for you.
B: Rally!
A: I have been given a break that could change my whole career.
B: What kind of break?
A: Big one. I mean it guarantees tremendous exposure.
B: How COULD you take a job like that with out seeing if I MINDED?
A: Well, why WOULD I think you minded if I got a job in the caption Gooney show?
B: Because I am your fiancee.And when take a job like that ---- caption who?
A: The highest rated kid's show.And I am going to be on it every single day.
B: That is nice.But I am talking about your picture in the magazine.
A: My picture in the magazine? I forgot about that.
B: How COULD you forget a thing like that?

Thank you

CalifJim · Answer

MFarooqB: How COULD you take a job like that without seeing if I MINDED?

Here "if" is the same as "whether". This is not the "if" clause of a conditional sentence. It is an indirect question.

How would you be able to take a job like that before you found out whether (or not) I minded?

("How could you?" conveys feelings of hurt.)

MFarooqA: Well, why WOULD I think you minded if I got a job.

Similarly, Why would I think you minded whether (or not) I got a job?

I can't imagine a reason. Imagining comes into it.

MFarooqB: How COULD you forget a thing like that?

How would it be possible for you to forget a thing like that?

This is "How could you?" again, as in the first sentence above.

CJ

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