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Bamtori Posted 20 years ago
Grammar
I wouldn't know???
Teachers, please take a look at this dialogue:
A: Was there any problem with it?
B: I wouldn't know.
My question is, why does B use "would" in his/her answer? Isn't "I don't know" enough?
A: Was there any problem with it?
B: I wouldn't know.
My question is, why does B use "would" in his/her answer? Isn't "I don't know" enough?
Top answer
Maybe it indicates A should ask somebody else.
- Maybe it indicates A should ask somebody else.
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2 Answers
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I don't know is enough, but B wanted to explain that he/she didn't know probably because he/she was not in a position to know. No one had told him/her about the situation. As Pieanne puts it, there is an underlying tone suggesting that maybe someone else would be able to answer the question in a more satisfactory way. Sometimes this phrasing is used to remain aloof from the whole
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