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unc70

(6,501 posts)
24. I reckon I might could help
Mon Feb 6, 2012, 04:14 PM
Feb 2012

Forming an immediate future using "fixing to" is very similar to using "going to". They are older than the more-formal "will" and "shall" forms which are not all that different linguistically.

Double modals like "might could" are very common in speech, though rare in writing. In this case, think of "might" with the meaning of "probably".

None of these forms are illiterate, though they are less common outside the South. Related forms are common everywhere, and people thing nothing of saying things like, "I used to do that."

Southern spoken English uses a lot subjunctives and even more quasi-subjunctive constructions. These have their roots in the speech of Northern England and of Scotland.

A favorite example of how it can turn out in real conversation:

"If they had just done that, you would have already done been back in business."

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If you want to take the lead, I'd be happy to help you out. NRaleighLiberal Dec 2011 #1
Either lead or secondary host is fine for me. NC has usually been a quiet forum, but it will be struggle4progress Dec 2011 #2
If you get lead, feel free to nominate me for one of your support hosts - it is indeed going to be NRaleighLiberal Dec 2011 #3
As I understand the process, hosts can appoint other hosts. The hierarchy of hosts does, however, struggle4progress Dec 2011 #4
I appointed you a host struggle4progress Dec 2011 #14
thanks. I've been playing around with my initial host selections.... NRaleighLiberal Dec 2011 #16
Ok... Triana Dec 2011 #5
Hey Triana! Haven't seen you for ages! struggle4progress Dec 2011 #6
I've been around. . . Triana Dec 2011 #7
We should do another Triangle get-together soon! struggle4progress Dec 2011 #8
Oh yea. I remember that! Boy did I get tired quick! Triana Dec 2011 #9
We defeated voter ID in the GA last spring by scraping together enough folk in the Senate struggle4progress Dec 2011 #10
Good. Now you mention I remember seeing that somewhere Triana Dec 2011 #11
There's stuff to do now: we can chat about it after the holidays if you want struggle4progress Dec 2011 #12
Works for me! I'm happy to take a backseat in NC tpsbmam Dec 2011 #13
I's a gol-durn yankee meself struggle4progress Dec 2011 #15
when i lived in boone we were more worried about the floridiots that came up Tunkamerica Dec 2011 #19
If you need anything translated, I can help unc70 Feb 2012 #22
Oooooo, I may well need translations! tpsbmam Feb 2012 #23
I reckon I might could help unc70 Feb 2012 #24
Hey s4p! nclib Dec 2011 #17
Hey! Long no see time! struggle4progress Dec 2011 #18
Would definitely like to get together to catch up. nclib Dec 2011 #20
Yes! But after the holidays! struggle4progress Dec 2011 #21
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