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Usenet Posted 23 years ago
Usage
I would suggest vs I suggest
I would suggest you write him a note.
Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?
Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?
Top answer
[nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note. [/nq] No, you didn't. You only stated that you would do it (suggest it, if it were up to you).
- [nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note.
- [/nq] No, you didn't.
- You only stated that you would do it (suggest it, if it were up to you).
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9 Answers
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[nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note. Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?[/nq]
No, you didn't. You only stated that you would do it (suggest it, if it were up to you).
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
No, you didn't. You only stated that you would do it (suggest it, if it were up to you).
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
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[nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note. Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?[/nq]
IMHO this suggests a conditional action, but without specifying the condition. I take that to be an attempt to evade any responsibility.
John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Informatio
IMHO this suggests a conditional action, but without specifying the condition. I take that to be an attempt to evade any responsibility.
John W Hall (Email Removed)
Cochrane, Alberta, Canada.
"Helping People Prosper in the Informatio
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[nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note. Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?[/nq]
If by redundant you mean, "I think it plays no useful role in the sentence and it shouldn't be there," then I'd say (note: I'd say, not I say), it does play a useful role. It adds a note of politeness.
You might as well say that that "Please
If by redundant you mean, "I think it plays no useful role in the sentence and it shouldn't be there," then I'd say (note: I'd say, not I say), it does play a useful role. It adds a note of politeness.
You might as well say that that "Please
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Got it. But in your text I believe the 'd is required by the context, not (only) by manners.
[nq:1]You might as well say that that "Please" in a request is redundant because you're asking for the thing anyway. ... my advice, *if* you want my opinion," and so on. It leaves all those sorts of polite hedgings as implied.[/nq]
Thanks, Donna. I didn't know about the silent "if" part, but you fi
[nq:1]You might as well say that that "Please" in a request is redundant because you're asking for the thing anyway. ... my advice, *if* you want my opinion," and so on. It leaves all those sorts of polite hedgings as implied.[/nq]
Thanks, Donna. I didn't know about the silent "if" part, but you fi
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[nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note. Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and madethe actual suggestion?[/nq]
Yes. Of course you could be even more direct and say, "Write him a note."
Adrian
Yes. Of course you could be even more direct and say, "Write him a note."
Adrian
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[nq:2]I would suggest you write him a note. Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?[/nq]
[nq:1]If by redundant you mean, "I think it plays no useful role in the sentence and it shouldn't be there," ... my advice, *if* you want my opinion," and so on. It leaves all those sorts of polite hedgings as implied..[/nq]
In a way, this is the
[nq:1]If by redundant you mean, "I think it plays no useful role in the sentence and it shouldn't be there," ... my advice, *if* you want my opinion," and so on. It leaves all those sorts of polite hedgings as implied..[/nq]
In a way, this is the
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[nq:1]I would suggest you write him a note. Isn't "would" in the above sentence redundant since I went ahead and made the actual suggestion?[/nq]
You need more context to know exactly what is really going on. The 'would' is sort of like a polite subjunctive marker in some contexts.
You need more context to know exactly what is really going on. The 'would' is sort of like a polite subjunctive marker in some contexts.
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[nq:1]the[/nq]
[nq:2]If by redundant you mean, "I think it plays no ... It leaves all those sorts of polite hedgings as implied.[/nq]
[nq:1]... In a way, this is the complement of the polite way of making suggestions that uses an if clause ... is that when I find myself saying it, I can improve it without having to back up: "...I'd appreciate it."[/nq]
"I'd appreciate it" is also requi
[nq:2]If by redundant you mean, "I think it plays no ... It leaves all those sorts of polite hedgings as implied.[/nq]
[nq:1]... In a way, this is the complement of the polite way of making suggestions that uses an if clause ... is that when I find myself saying it, I can improve it without having to back up: "...I'd appreciate it."[/nq]
"I'd appreciate it" is also requi
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On 22 Oct 2003 21:49:32 GMT, Arcadian Rises (Email Removed) wrote, in part:
[nq:1]The only remaining phrase which I still don't quite understand is "I would guess that..." followed by the actual guess. ... since "I'd guess" (IMO) in many instances is verbal cliche, a filler, who doesn't always convey the actual literal meaning.[/nq]
I mean and hear it as "If I had to guess, I'd guess that.
[nq:1]The only remaining phrase which I still don't quite understand is "I would guess that..." followed by the actual guess. ... since "I'd guess" (IMO) in many instances is verbal cliche, a filler, who doesn't always convey the actual literal meaning.[/nq]
I mean and hear it as "If I had to guess, I'd guess that.
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