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Tenacious Learner Posted 13 years ago
Grammar

Would be able to - Which tense?

Hi teachers,
‘Where can I go?’ he thought. ‘Perhaps I can escape from the country, but I want
to see Olivia again before I leave … or before the police find me.’

Question: Which tense is 'would be able to'? Is it present subjunctive?
Was Alex sure he would be able to flee the country? Explain your answer.
No, he wasn’t. He thought the police might find him.

Thanks in advance.
  

Top answer

Hello,TL. That's conditional tense. com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses

— Surfer

  • Hello,TL.
  • That's conditional tense.
  • com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses
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6 Answers
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Hello,TL.

That's conditional tense.

Here's, I Googled that for you and found this page - It's really useful, check it out:
http://www.ego4u.com/en/cram-up/grammar/tenses
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would - defective/modal auxiliary verb
be - present infinitive
would be - present conditional

able - adjective
to - part of the next verb, flee; infinitive marker, sometimes called infinitive particle by some European grammarians

Be can be a present subjunctive: He requested that we be present at the meeting.

CB
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Hi CB,
Thanks a lot for your help. It's crystal clear now.

TL
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SurferThat's conditional tense
Few grammarians today consider that English has a conditional tense.

Constructions involving the modals are simply though of as modal constructions.
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SurferHere's, I Googled that for you and found this page - It's really useful, check it out:
Hi Surfer,
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fivejedjonFew grammarians today consider that English has a conditional tense.
Hi fivejedjon,
Thanks! Opinions are always welcome.

TL
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