Correct sentence?
CalifJimanonymousBut I would like to understand would just like a native speaker.I don't think that's possible by classifying different uses of "would". Native speakers never think in terms of "Is it conditional, or polite, or probability, or opinion, or ...?" I think native speakers just know a few grammatical patterns where 'would' is used, and they keep using those as needed — without thinking about which exact pattern they're using.
anonymousDo you think my understanding is incorrect?No. Everyone has their own way of coming to terms with this difficult subject of 'would' in English. You seem comfortable with your own way of dealing with this subject.
CJ
CJ, that’s exactly what I am trying to say when I said I want to use woulds like a native speaker. One last question,
A: It would seem that he is trying to get a pay raise.
B: That would be Joe calling. Answer the phone.
Do the woulds in sentence A and B above don’t have any conditional mood at all? I think they do.
Top answer
anonymous Do the woulds in sentence A and B above don’t have any conditional mood at all? Not for me, but as I say, everyone has a different feel for these things, so if you sense something conditional in them, that's OK. anonymous A: It would seem that he is trying to get a pay raise.
- anonymous Do the woulds in sentence A and B above don’t have any conditional mood at all?
- Not for me, but as I say, everyone has a different feel for these things, so if you sense something conditional in them, that's OK.
- anonymous A: It would seem that he is trying to get a pay raise.
- This is what I call "hedging".
- (Dictionary definition: to hedge: to avoid answering a question or making a decision in a definite or direct way) Of course you may add the vacuous condition "If I had to make a guess about this situation" if that helps you to understand this usage better.
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anonymousDo the woulds in sentence A and B above don’t have any conditional mood at all?
Not for me, but as I say, everyone has a different feel for these things, so if you sense something conditional in them, that's OK.
anonymousA: It would seem that he is trying to get a pay raise.
This is what I call "hedging".
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