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SpoonfedBaby Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

...far sharper than her often twinkly manner would suggest.

Hello everybody,Emotion: smile
"I was more likely to scam my therapist than Mrs. Forburg, who was far sharper and harder than her often twinkly manner would suggest."
Why did the author use "would suggest" and not "suggested?"

Thank you very much,

SFB
  

Top answer

"suggested" would be stating a fact. "would suggest" is a softer way of expressing it. That's how I see it

— Pieanne

  • "suggested" would be stating a fact.
  • "would suggest" is a softer way of expressing it.
  • That's how I see it
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5 Answers
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"suggested" would be stating a fact. "would suggest" is a softer way of expressing it. That's how I see it Emotion: smile
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Good morning,

I was more likely to scam my therapist than Mrs. Forburg, who was far sharper and harder than her often twinkly manner would suggest."
Why did the author use "would suggest" and not "suggested?"

I think that's an interesting question. I'd say that here, 'wo
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Oh yes, Clive! So much better... [F]
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There is also a hint of continuity about the use of would here.

Compare:

We tried to get a free ride, but the ticket collector was astuter than his manner suggested. [We tried it once and on that occasion the ticket collector was astute]

We were always trying to get a free ride, but the ticket collector was astuter than his manner would suggest.[We
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I'd agree that 'would' is here meant to convey 'habitual activity'; but the 'often' seems unidiomatic in this usage – perhaps because the 'would' already contains the notion of 'regularly':

1. I was more likely to scam my therapist than Mrs F., who was far sharper and harder than her often twinkly manner used to suggest.

'Would suggest' in the sense of 'might suggest'
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