tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167585665865020265.post5187863085647202442..comments2024-03-29T03:45:15.415+01:00Comments on Random Idea English: Modal verbs - an overviewWarsaw Willhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15373568589613033674noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167585665865020265.post-60894753861177415102015-07-12T14:06:35.990+02:002015-07-12T14:06:35.990+02:00First, sorry for the delay in answering, and what ...First, sorry for the delay in answering, and what a question! Incidentally, another teacher has had a go at answering it at the <a href="http://forum.wordreference.com/threads/would.3021513/" rel="nofollow">WordReference Forum</a>. You could also have a look at my post on <a href="http://random-idea-english.blogspot.com/2012/02/word-corner-would.html" rel="nofollow">would</a>.<br /><br />So here goes. I would suggest that all three are being implied 2nd conditionals. Let's rephrase it as a couple of conditional sentences:<br /><br />"<b>If</b> you <b>asked</b> about a dog's name before knowing which dog is being referred, to it <b>would be</b> unnatural. Because <b>if</b> you <b>asked</b> about the dog's name, the speaker and listeners <b>would already know</b> which dog is meant, and this <b>would normally be</b> a dog nearby"<br /><br />There are other possible interpretations. We sometimes use would for speculating, talking about people's behaviour or past customs ot habits. But I think the implied conditional is the easiest way to explain this one. <br /><br />Warsaw Willhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15373568589613033674noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4167585665865020265.post-40153203013592088742015-05-19T09:07:21.368+02:002015-05-19T09:07:21.368+02:00Hello teacher. There are three words "would&q...Hello teacher. There are three words "would" in the sentene below. So, how does that work? This is an answer of the use of "the".<br /><br /><br />It WOULD be unnatural to ask about a dog's name before knowing which dog is being referred to. The speaker and listeners WOULD already know which dog is meant, so the dog is correct. This dog WOULD normally be a dog nearby, or at least visible; or it could be a dog in a photo.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04058508823259748649noreply@blogger.com