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OttoJ Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
Would/might
WOULD can be used for talking about things that often happened in the past:
-When/If my parents were away, my grandmother would take care of me.
Is it possible to replace WOULD by MIGHT to mean in those days in the past when my parents were absent, it was possible that my grandmother would take care of me/it was possible for her to take care of me? I have thought of this problem for a long time, but I am still not sure why MIGHT DO seems to be impossible and must be replaced by MIGHT/MAY HAVE DONE, depending on context.
-When/If my parents were away, my grandmother would take care of me.
Is it possible to replace WOULD by MIGHT to mean in those days in the past when my parents were absent, it was possible that my grandmother would take care of me/it was possible for her to take care of me? I have thought of this problem for a long time, but I am still not sure why MIGHT DO seems to be impossible and must be replaced by MIGHT/MAY HAVE DONE, depending on context.
Top answer
The past form of the modals is modal + have + past participle. The present form is modal + infinitive. Of course, some modals have past forms: w ould take care of me, could take care of me .
- The past form of the modals is modal + have + past participle.
- The present form is modal + infinitive.
- Of course, some modals have past forms: w ould take care of me, could take care of me .
- Might is not generally considered a past form of may except in reported speech, I think.
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5 Answers
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The past form of the modals is modal + have + past participle.
The present form is modal + infinitive.
Of course, some modals have past forms: would take care of me, could take care of me. Might is not generally considered a past form of may except in reported speech, I think.
The present form is modal + infinitive.
Of course, some modals have past forms: would take care of me, could take care of me. Might is not generally considered a past form of may except in reported speech, I think.
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um...so to convey my meaning, do you think the sentence should be?:
--When/If my parents were away, my grandmother may/might have taken take care of me.
The second part doesn't sound right, because it would convey the meaning that in a particular instance in the past it was possible that she did something, bu
--When/If my parents were away, my grandmother may/might have taken take care of me.
The second part doesn't sound right, because it would convey the meaning that in a particular instance in the past it was possible that she did something, bu
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I agree that it sounds awkward, but 'might have taken' still seems more on the mark that 'might take'.
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http://www.gutenberg.org/files/244/244-h/244-h.htm
Chap 6:
The despotism and hatred of Liberalism which animated the Continental Governments had had the effect of driving to our shores a number of men who might have made excellent
Chap 6:
The despotism and hatred of Liberalism which animated the Continental Governments had had the effect of driving to our shores a number of men who might have made excellent
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OttoJDo you think it would make any difference in meaning if the verb were 'had they not been soured...'No, I don't.
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