0
New2grammar Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

confused about 'would'

0I know 'would' carries many meanings. My problem is sometimes I find it difficult to tell which meaning the speaker uses. I think I understand its hypothetical usage, and in some contexts, its politeness usage. Below is a post that has several woulds I have trouble interpreting. I also copied a post on would by CalifJim for reference.02br
02br
01i00 Your analysis is good. Context will determine if you're using the expression as an excuse to break off what you're doing. If you're calling the people you expect to meet, then you 01font00would02font00 (1)tell them the truth. You can say, "I'll be about five minutes late," or "I may be a little late." If you're speaking to someone who is about to make you late for an appointment, the expression 01font00would(2)02font00 mean, "Hey, I'm gonna be late if I don't split right now!" If you just say, "I'm gonna be late," you probably 01font00would(3)02font00 have already tipped the person off that you 01font00would(4)02font00 need to end the conversation soon, and as you suggest, you 01font00would(5)02font00 still expect to be on time if you left immediately.02i02br
02br
001) I don't thing politeness is the intended meaning here. To my ear, it carries the meaning of preference.02br
02br
002) would here means possible? I have zero confidence in this one.02br
02br
003) it doesn't look like hypothetical usage to me because the if clause is in present tense 02br
02br
004) and 5) should follow the same reasoning for #3, whatever that is.02br
02br
00Please help! Thanks in advance!02br
02br
00CalifJim's explanation on would02br
01i00Yes. I thought maybe that's what you were referring to.02br
00would in an if clause is possible when the would or the entire if-clause is part of a formula of politeness. if you would be so kind is a typical example of if with would in a "politeness phrase". This formula is equivalent to please. This sort of if-clause does not even have to be classified as a true conditional even though it contains the word if.02i
02br
02br
01i00The phrase would like as a polite way of saying want, and it too can appear in an if-clause. Note that the idiom would like counts as a present tense for purposes of tense combinations. That is, it may combine with the imperative or the future. The idiom would rather has the same property.02i02br
02br
01i00If you would like to have dinner with us tomorrow, please call and let us know before noon.02br
00I'm sure that if he'd like to go with us, he'll tell us. (If he would like to go, he will tell us.)02br
00If you'd rather wait until tomorrow, [just say so / I'll understand].02i
02br
02br
01i00if-clauses that are part of an indirect question structure are also exempt from the rule about combining if and would:02i02br
02br
01i00I wonder if he would object to this procedure.02br
00I don't know if I would agree.02br
00We had not decided if we would go along with the plan.02i
02br
02br
01i00With the exception of the indirect question structure, which is quite common, these are just a very, very small number of situations where if and would occur in the same clause. The main rule for 99.99999% of cases is 'never' to place if and would together!02br
02i
0-
  

Top answer

0They are all conditionals (see the "if"):02br 01i 00If something (a 01b 00context02b 00) happens, something else (a 01b 00meaning02b 00) happens. 02i 02br 00I strongly suggest you look at a 01b 00good02b 00 English grammar book in your language in order to get to the bottom of this. 02br 00Also, pls make shorter postings and focus on one item at a time.

  • 0They are all conditionals (see the "if"):02br 01i 00If something (a 01b 00context02b 00) happens, something else (a 01b 00meaning02b 00) happens.
  • 02i 02br 00I strongly suggest you look at a 01b 00good02b 00 English grammar book in your language in order to get to the bottom of this.
  • 02br 00Also, pls make shorter postings and focus on one item at a time.
  • 0-
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

2 Answers
0
0They are all conditionals (see the "if"):02br
01i00If something (a 01b00context02b00) happens, something else (a 01b00meaning02b00) happens. 02i02br
00I strongly suggest you look at a 01b00good02b00 English grammar book in your language in order to get to the bottom of this. 02br
0
1i01b00 If02b00 you're speaking to someone who is about to make you late for an appointment, the expression 01b00would02b00 mean, "Hey, I'm gonna be late if I don't split right now!" 02i02br
00means: 02br
01i01b00In the case (that) 02b00you're speaking to someone who is about to make y

Related Questions