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Grammar

English is not my native language, so I'm planning to note down some questions that I continuously encounter while speaking and writing English.

Polite request​

As modal verbs, would and could can be used to make a polite request.

Would + like/rather to express desire or preference.

  • Would you like a cup of coffee?
  • Would you close the door, please?
  • I would like to make a reservation for tonight.
  • They would rather play a game than read a book.
  • Could I borrow your pen?
  • Could you make a bit less noise, please?

Typical or habitual actions or events in the past​

  • My parents would often invite people over for dinner.
  • The dog would bark whenver it saw the postman.

Conditional Sentences​

Ref: https://www.grammarly.com/blog/conditional-sentences/

Four types:

  • Zero conditional (general truths)
    • Simple present tense, simple present tense
    • If you smoke, your health suffers
    • When water reaches 100 degrees, it boils.
  • First conditional (likely outcome, but not guaranteed)
    • Simple present tense, simple future tense
    • If you rest, you will feel better
    • If you set your mind to a goal, you’ll eventually achieve it.
  • Second conditional (completely unrealistic, will not likely happen in the future)
    • Simple past, auxiliary modal verb (could, should, would, might)
    • If I inherited a billion dollars, I would travel to the moon.
    • If I owned a zoo, I might let people interact with the animals more.
  • Third conditional (present circumstances would be different if something different had happened in the past. Likely enough, but did not actually happen in the past)
    • Past perfect (had + past participle), modal auxiliary ( would, could, should, might ) + have + past participle
    • If you had told me you needed a ride, I would have left earlier.
    • If I had cleaned the house, I could have gone to the movies.

Two special cases:

  • When the action in the if-clause will take place after the action in the main clause
    • if aspirin will ease my headache, I will take a couple tonight.
  • Were to is used to place emphasis on the potential outcome
    • when the likely or unlikely result is particularly awful or unthinkable
    • If I were to be sick, I would miss another day of work.
    • If she were to be late again, she would have to have a conference with the manager.
    • If the rent were to have been a penny more, they would not have been able to pay it.