Introduction

‘Conditions deal with imagined situations: some are possible, some are unlikely, some are impossible’ (Carter and McCarthy 2006). To complete this sequence of units on modality (and on the verb phrase) this unit takes a look at ways that possible, unlikely and impossible meanings are expressed in English.

Tasks

1 Hypothetical and conditional meaning

Use this text to answer the tasks that follow.

• a Hypothetical meaning: It wouldn’t be so bad there. This is an instance of someone talking about an unlikely or impossible situation. Can you identify any other examples of hypothetical meaning in the above passage?

• b conditional clauses: ‘conditional clauses are subordinate clauses that are commonly introduced by the word if’ (carter et al. 2011). how many conditional clauses can you find in the extract?

• c Modals: ‘When you are using a conditional clause, you often use a modal in the main clause (Collins COBUILD). Find examples in the text to support this.

2 Would

As we have seen, the modal would can express hypothetical meaning. But it can also express a variety of other meanings. Identify the examples in these extracts from the Cambridge English Corpus that have hypothetical meaning, and then categorise the others in terms of the meanings they express.

• a Would you ever bungee jump?

• b When I lived in upstate New York, we would use our time shoveling snow to catch up with neighbors.

• c The Treasury would not be drawn on the specifics of its plans.

• d If acting hadn’t worked out for me, I would’ve been a therapist.

• e I’m sure she’s charming, but I would advise against raising her hopes.

• f The governor said he would continue to fund his school reform effort.

• g If you get any more notes like these, if I were you I would complain to the principal.

• h For vegetables, the pilgrims and Wampanoags would have eaten pumpkin, peas, beans, onions, lettuce, radishes and carrots.

• i John believed his brother would one day be a gifted player.

• j I never panhandled in my life, but I would if I had to.

3 Conditional clauses

A conditional clause is a subordinate clause and typically begins with the conjunction if.