0
Volcano1985 Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Help

He was to have been the new ambassador but he fell ill.

He would be the new ambassador but he fell ill.

Whats the difference ?
  

Top answer

Hi Volcano Here is my take: Your first sentence refers to everything in the past. We have no way of knowing how long ago it was. This could be a reference to events that took place (or didn't take place) a hundred years ago -- or last month, for example.

— Yankee

  • Hi Volcano Here is my take: Your first sentence refers to everything in the past.
  • We have no way of knowing how long ago it was.
  • This could be a reference to events that took place (or didn't take place) a hundred years ago -- or last month, for example.
  • In you second sentence, "would be" refers to the present (or possibly the future), and the end of you sentence suggests that he isn't (or will not be) the new ambassador because he became ill before that could happen.
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
Hi Volcano

Here is my take:

Your first sentence refers to everything in the past. We have no way of knowing how long ago it was. This could be a reference to events that took place (or didn't take place) a hundred years ago -- or last month, for example.

In you second sentence, "would be" refers to the present (or possibly the future), and the end of you sentence su
0
0
So in second, he can be the new ambassador again?
0

Related Questions