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Anonymous Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

Is it possible >>>

*Perry would always flatter Mrs. Mitchell by praising her cooking.

In the sentence above can we omit would ?if not why?



Thanks indeed
  

Top answer

No. Would , being a defective auxiliary, takes a plain infinitive (flatter). If you omit would , you must put flatter in the past tense : "Perry always flatter ed Mrs.

— Cool Breeze

  • No.
  • Would , being a defective auxiliary, takes a plain infinitive (flatter).
  • If you omit would , you must put flatter in the past tense : "Perry always flatter ed Mrs.
  • " Cheers CB
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2 Answers
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No. Would, being a defective auxiliary, takes a plain infinitive (flatter). If you omit would, you must put flatter in the past tense:

"Perry always flattered Mrs. Mitchell by praising her cooking."

Cheers
CB
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can we omit would?
No.

Perry would always flatter = Perry always used to flatter

CJ
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