English Online
with Speak Method
speakmethod


Online Classes 500 Words Pronunciation
 R, Th, T and other sounds Business Communication
Local Classes Pronunciation Facts
 TOEFL Prep ESL Stories
Contact us Vowel Sounds
 Grammar and Idioms For Young People

Conditional Words (Also Called Modal Verbs)

Simple Present and Present Progressive have the same meaning, except the progressive tense emphasizes "now" or "very soon."
Present perfect relates a past condition.

Conditional Word
 Meaning
 With Simple Present
 With Present Perfect
 With Present Progressive
should
 it is necessary,
one ought to
 I should go.
 I should have gone.
 I should be going.
could
 it is possible,
one is capable
 He could help you.
 He could have helped you.
 He could be helping, but he's not.
might
 it may or may not happen,
can use either "may" or "might,"
but "might" is more
popular in regular speech
 I might leave town.
I might have left town last night, but I didn't have time.
 I might be leaving town.

The Polite and Conditional Word: Would


Polite
 Meaning
 Conditional
 Meaning
I would love to go shopping with you.
 Thanks for inviting me. I'm excited!
 I would go shopping with you, but my two year old  is sick.
 I wish I could go, but I cannot.
I would like to make a suggestion.
 I want to say something.
 I would have talked to my manager, but I thought he wouldn't care about my ideas.
 I wanted to speak to my manager, but it wasn't a good idea.
Would you please tell us what is on your mind?
 Please say what you are thinking.
 He would have listened, but he didn't have time.
 He wanted to listen, but he could not.
She would like to go home now.
 She wants to go home.
 She would have gone home, but there was no one to drive her.
 She wanted to go, but could not.

* "will" means the future. Sometimes people use it politely, as in "Will you go with me?" However, "will" does refer to the future or a question about a definite event. Would means "desire" or "want" and is used to politely ask, to politely give an answer or to bring up an uncertain, "maybe" condition. Notice that in all of the conditional sentences, you could substitute "would" with "might."
** "could" is often used in the same polite way as "would." Using "could" is more informal--people use it with friends/relatives. "Would" is best for being polite.


   

   
Get More Practice

Back to Grammar and Idioms

English Pronunciation News: Grammar

Learn by Language: Free Pronunciation Classes

Online Classes with Instructor

Back to Speak Method home.
Learn English pronunciation and grammar. Learn English speaking skills free online.

free english online learn english free online learn pronunciation english pronunciation