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Newguest Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

I'd/would've

1b00Hi02b02br
02br
00I'm wondering why the author of the sentence below used "I'd" and "would've been" instead of just "I imagine" and "were" or "have been"?02br
02br
01b00I'd02b00 imagine that the tasks at the interview 01b00would've been02b00 a doddle for you. 0-
  

Top answer

0 It takes the edge off. 02br 01i 00I imagine the tasks ... "02br 01i 00I'd imagine the tasks ...

— CalifJim

  • 0 It takes the edge off.
  • 02br 01i 00I imagine the tasks ...
  • "02br 01i 00I'd imagine the tasks ...
  • would've been a doddle for you02i 00 gives the feeling of "You poor, unfortunate guy.
  • 02br 00CJ 0-
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5 Answers
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0 It takes the edge off. It softens the message.02br
01i00I imagine the tasks ... were a doddle for you02i00 gives the feeling of "You're pretty stupid, so the tasks probably confused you."02br
01i00I'd imagine the tasks ... would've been a doddle for you02i00 gives the feeling of "You poor, unfortunate guy. I suppose the tasks may
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0You wrote that the difference is subtle so, actually, there's not much difference between these two?0-
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1i01b00I'd02b00 imagine02i00 is more polite/reserved, there01b00 is02b00 a difference 0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10Newguest12cite10so, actually, there's not much difference between these two?12blockquote
10 The tone of voice, in my opinion, can counteract the actual word choice so strongly that the difference between them may be, in some contexts, below the noise level, so to speak.02br
00CJ 0-
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