On 2010-10-14, at 5:54 PM, Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar wrote:

> Is the “would” in the following sentence a left-over from the days when modals were actually verbs?
> 
>                                Would that I hadn’t done that.

I'm not sure I understand the question. I think modals are still actual verbs, and regardless of whether I'm right or not, wouldn't it be true that everything about modals is a left-over from the days when they were actual verbs? Anyhow, here's what the CGEL (Ch 10) has this to say:

"Optatives

"[56] i) Long live the Emperor.   God save the Queen!   God help you if you're not ready on time!   Far be it from me to complain.   So be it.

"ii) May all your troubles be quickly resolved!   Long may she reign over us!

"iii) Would that he were still alive!   Would to God I'd never set eyes on him!

"These three constructions express wishes. The examples in [i] are subjunctives. Though the subjunctive construction is fully productive in subordinate clauses, in main clauses it is found only in a narrow range of fixed expressions or formulaic frames. In some the subject occupies its basic position, while in others it is postposed to the end of the clause or to the right of be. Construction [ii], which belongs to somewhat formal style, has may in pre-subject position, meaning approximately AI [log in to unmask] There is some semantic resemblance between this specialised use of may and that of let in open let-imperatives, but syntactically the NP following may is clearly subject (witness the nominative form she). The construction has the same internal form as a closed interrogative, but has no uninverted counterpart. Construction [iii] is archaic; syntactically it consists of would as predicator with a finite clause complement (and optionally the PP to God as another complement), but is of course exceptional in that the understood subject (I) is not expressed. The subordinate clause is a modal preterite, with the same interpretation as in the regular construction with I wish (Ch. 11, '7.2)."

Also, see the OED, especially entry 23 and section III.

Best,
Brett

-----------------------
Brett Reynolds
English Language Centre
Humber College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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