0
   

Would in if-clauses #2

 
 
Reply Sun 21 Jan, 2018 02:18 am
Please consider the following sentence:

However if you want to talk about banks, Trump could clear up all the suspicion about Russian bank/government loans if he would release his taxes like he once promised to do.

What does "would" mean above? Does it mean "If he was willing to release his taxes....."?

Thanks again for your patience.
  • Topic Stats
  • Top Replies
  • Link to this Topic
Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 458 • Replies: 2
No top replies

 
PUNKEY
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Jan, 2018 01:38 pm
It's a simple "could if he would" verb matching.

However, the "if he was willing" can work as well.

0 Replies
 
camlok
 
  2  
Reply Sun 21 Jan, 2018 02:15 pm
@paok1970,
Quote:
However if you want to talk about banks, Trump could clear up all the suspicion about Russian bank/government loans if he would release his taxes like he once promised to do.

What does "would" mean above? Does it mean "If he was willing to release his taxes....."?


It means the same as,

Trump can/it is possible for Trump to clear up all the suspicion about Russian bank/government loans if he will release his taxes like he once promised to do.

'could' and 'would' are used because the writer recognizes that the issue upon which he pontificates is a more speculative thing, so he uses "distant" modals to reflect that.

The 'would' could/can also mean as you have noted above, "his willingness".
0 Replies
 
 

Related Topics

 
  1. Forums
  2. » Would in if-clauses #2
Copyright © 2024 MadLab, LLC :: Terms of Service :: Privacy Policy :: Page generated in 0.08 seconds on 04/26/2024 at 10:18:27