Content tagged with "unlikelihood"
8 item(s) found.Less likely conditions in third conditional
Should and were to can also be used in the if-clauseA group of related words containing a subject and a verb. of third conditional sentences. To express that the sentence refers to past, however, a perfectThe aspect expressing completion. E.g.: He’s finished university. infinitive is used after them. Note that this usage (like the situation it expresses) is not very common.
Modals expressing present and future unlikelihood
SHOULD
Should can be used after in case to emphasisSpecial importance or attention given to something. E.g.: All I wanna do is have some fun.e unlikelihood. This use is rather formalNot belonging to colloquial or everyday speech; official. E.g.: I demand that Mr Smith call the person on whom the committee has decided. or may even sound archaic to some speakers.
Modals expressing past unlikelihood
SHOULD
Should + perfectThe aspect expressing completion. E.g.: He’s finished university. infinitive can be used to emphasisSpecial importance or attention given to something. E.g.: All I wanna do is have some fun.e unlikelihood in the past. This use is rather formalNot belonging to colloquial or everyday speech; official. E.g.: I demand that Mr Smith call the person on whom the committee has decided. or may even sound archaic to some speakers.
Less likely conditions in second conditional
In second conditional, the past subjunctive form of be to is used to express that a condition is less likely.
Less likely conditions in first conditional
In first conditional, happen to and should is used to express unlikelihood.
If you happen to see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
If you should see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
If you should happen to see Kate, could you ask her about my CD?
The last one is the least likely.
Modals in the IF-clause of first conditional sentences
In the if-clauseA group of related words containing a subject and a verb. of the first conditional we can use should (to express that the condition is less likely), can (permission or ability), will or would (willingness, insistence and refusal), must (obligation) or may (permission).
Less likely conditions
To make a condition less likely you can use phrases (for example, by any chance) or the structureThe way in which the parts of a sentence, clause or expression are arranged. E.g.: make somebody + infinitive in "The teacher made me rewrite the composition."s below.
