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Bamtori Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Would, Conditional Question

Teachers, is this the second coditional?, " I can't believe you would embarrass me like this." I'm wondering what the if clause would be like. I'm thinking like "If you could"? Conditionals never stops bugging me. Thanks so much.
  

Top answer

" I would not call it a second conditional because it has no if -clause. In my opinion, this makes it too unlike a standard second conditional to merit the name. Isolated, that is, without further context, I see this as a past event.

— CalifJim

  • " I would not call it a second conditional because it has no if -clause.
  • In my opinion, this makes it too unlike a standard second conditional to merit the name.
  • Isolated, that is, without further context, I see this as a past event.
  • The listener has already embarrassed the speaker.
  • The speaker reacts with disbelief.
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2 Answers
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BamtoriTeachers, is this the second conditional?, " I can't believe you would embarrass me like this."
I would not call it a second conditional because it has no if-clause. In my opinion, this makes it too unlike a standard second conditional to merit the name.
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Thanks so much, Jim! Now I know it's the past tense and that the "would" in here is "wanted to". Your answers are always the best. [Y]
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