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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Contractions
Hello. I am really confused now.
I have come across this rule in an English text book. It says small 'd's after interrogative words(e.g. what, how, where..etc.) are always 'did'.
So, what'd you say?= what did you say? How'd you say=How did you say?
But, I came across some situations when I thought thoes 'd' were used as 'would'..Was my comprehension wrong?
Are thoes small 'd' after question words always 'did'? Or 'could','would' and 'had' are also possible?
I am really confused now. I very much appreciate any help.
Thanks!
Karina
I have come across this rule in an English text book. It says small 'd's after interrogative words(e.g. what, how, where..etc.) are always 'did'.
So, what'd you say?= what did you say? How'd you say=How did you say?
But, I came across some situations when I thought thoes 'd' were used as 'would'..Was my comprehension wrong?
Are thoes small 'd' after question words always 'did'? Or 'could','would' and 'had' are also possible?
I am really confused now. I very much appreciate any help.
Thanks!
Karina
Top answer
I like to make it clear when discussing contractions that we are in the realm of the informal. When speaking or writing in the informal register, references to and rules concerning forms such as contractions, dialect, slang, and indefinite references are way more flexible. ' 1) He'd rather have vanilla.
- I like to make it clear when discussing contractions that we are in the realm of the informal.
- When speaking or writing in the informal register, references to and rules concerning forms such as contractions, dialect, slang, and indefinite references are way more flexible.
- ' 1) He'd rather have vanilla.
- 2) He'd have rather died.
- It can mean 'had'.
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5 Answers
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I like to make it clear when discussing contractions that we are in the realm of the informal.
When speaking or writing in the informal register, references to and rules concerning forms such as contractions, dialect, slang, and indefinite references are way more flexible.
When manuals tackle the subject at all, they'll normally cite, as an example, "he'd" as 'he would.'
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When speaking or writing in the informal register, references to and rules concerning forms such as contractions, dialect, slang, and indefinite references are way more flexible.
When manuals tackle the subject at all, they'll normally cite, as an example, "he'd" as 'he would.'
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Anonymous It says small 'd's after interrogative words(e.g. what, how, where..etc.) are always 'did'.Yes. Are you sure the other examples you found were connected to interrogative words? If you are still in doubt, please post the examples where you thought 'd was would or had and we'll check it for you. (It can never be
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Dear ed-shaw
Thank you very much for your kind help.
Now I've got that the flexibility cannot be applied when a little 'd' comes after question words and it always means 'did'. :-)
Once again, thank you very much for your help and great explanation!
Karina
Thank you very much for your kind help.
Now I've got that the flexibility cannot be applied when a little 'd' comes after question words and it always means 'did'. :-)
Once again, thank you very much for your help and great explanation!
Karina
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Dear CalifJim
Thank you for your help and your kind offer.
I don't remember what they said exactly....When I chatted with friends and if they said 'what'd' or 'how'd', I always tried to figure out if they meant 'would', 'could' or 'did'. There were several occassions when I thought it meant 'would' or 'could'! But now I know I was wrong and now I know I don't need to analyse a
Thank you for your help and your kind offer.
I don't remember what they said exactly....When I chatted with friends and if they said 'what'd' or 'how'd', I always tried to figure out if they meant 'would', 'could' or 'did'. There were several occassions when I thought it meant 'would' or 'could'! But now I know I was wrong and now I know I don't need to analyse a
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As has already been mentioned, most of the time, when you find 'd after a question word, it is a contraction of did.
You will occasionally hear would (but NOT could) contracted to 'd after a question word. I imagine 'd might also possibly be used as a contraction of had after a question word, but I'd say that would be less likely than would
You will occasionally hear would (but NOT could) contracted to 'd after a question word. I imagine 'd might also possibly be used as a contraction of had after a question word, but I'd say that would be less likely than would
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