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Japan Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Is "I could have danced..." subjunctive mode?
Hello guys
I have one question long about ' I could have danced all night' in 'My Fair Lady'.
It has a passage of "I only know when he began to dance with me, I could have danced all night." Is that a third-condition?
If so, I think the conditional clause should be "he had begun to dance..."
Please give me your input.
Thank you in advance.
I have one question long about ' I could have danced all night' in 'My Fair Lady'.
It has a passage of "I only know when he began to dance with me, I could have danced all night." Is that a third-condition?
If so, I think the conditional clause should be "he had begun to dance..."
Please give me your input.
Thank you in advance.
Top answer
The conditional structures require "if". The word here is "when", not "if", so this is not any of the conditionals. A third conditional structure along the lines of the quoted material would be one of the following: If he had begun to dance with me, I would have danced all night.
- The conditional structures require "if".
- The word here is "when", not "if", so this is not any of the conditionals.
- A third conditional structure along the lines of the quoted material would be one of the following: If he had begun to dance with me, I would have danced all night.
- I [could have / would have] danced all night if he had been willing.
- If I had known that he was going to dance with me, I would have worn a better gown.
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4 Answers
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The conditional structures require "if". The word here is "when", not "if", so this is not any of the conditionals.
A third conditional structure along the lines of the quoted material would be one of the following:
If he had begun to dance with me, I would have danced all night.
I [could have / would have] danced all night if he had been willing.
If I had known that
A third conditional structure along the lines of the quoted material would be one of the following:
If he had begun to dance with me, I would have danced all night.
I [could have / would have] danced all night if he had been willing.
If I had known that
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JapanHello guys
I have one question long about ' I could have danced all night' in 'My Fair Lady'.
It has a passage of "I only know when he began to dance with me, I could have danced all night." Is that a third-condition?
If so, I think the conditional clause should be "he had begun to dance..."
Please give me your input.
Than
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Dear friends,
I do not believe it is a conditional statement. It is the projection of an imaginary world.
It is possible to precede or follow any statement with an unspoken if:
«The sky is blue [if my eyes do not deceive me].»
It is not therefore the case that any statement is preceded or followed by an «unspoken if».
I do not believe it is a conditional statement. It is the projection of an imaginary world.
It is possible to precede or follow any statement with an unspoken if:
«The sky is blue [if my eyes do not deceive me].»
It is not therefore the case that any statement is preceded or followed by an «unspoken if».
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Guys
Thanks to your many replies.
My understanding is that the lady danced with him actually but it was over soon. And she was regretting it.
Thanks to your many replies.
My understanding is that the lady danced with him actually but it was over soon. And she was regretting it.
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