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Avellano Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Is this "would" equal to "should"?

0In reply to a question about language, the following message came in a forum.02br
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00Hi,12br
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10Interestingly, in the example sentence you could also use the word "much". I 11b10wouldn't12b10 notice a difference in meaning.12blockquote
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00I don't know the exact meaning of the"would" above. Is it the subjenctive form of a simple future? I mean, is it simply the reserved form of "I will not notice a difference in meaning (= It is unlikely that when I come across such a usage, I'll not find a difference)?02br
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00Allow me another question, can the "wouldn't" be replaced by "shouldn't"?0-
  

Top answer

02br 02br 01i 00You could also use the word "much". (If you used the word "much",) I wouldn't notice a difference in meaning. 02br 02br 00 The clause with "would" is the statement of the result.

— CalifJim

  • 02br 02br 01i 00You could also use the word "much".
  • (If you used the word "much",) I wouldn't notice a difference in meaning.
  • 02br 02br 00 The clause with "would" is the statement of the result.
  • The clause introduced by "if" and containing a past tense is the statement of the condition.
  • As seen above, the statement of the condition is not required.
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4 Answers
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0 Welcome to English Forums!02br
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01i00You could also use the word "much". (If you used the word "much",) I wouldn't notice a difference in meaning. 02i02br
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00 The use of "would" almost invariably suggests a condition, whether the condition is stated explicitly or not.02br
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00 The clause with "would" is t
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5000Thanks! You cleared up all my ambiguity! Please allow me to ask you one more related question;01blockquote
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10・ I 11b10should12b10 like to visit a boutique. (if I were allowed)12br
10・ Perhaps I 11b10should12b10 say she did not trust us at all. (if I were asked)12br
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0>Allow me another question, can the "wouldn't" be replaced by "shouldn't"?02br
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00 In BrE only. 0-
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0 01blockquote
00I 11b10should12b10 like to visit a boutique. (if I were allowed)12blockquote
10 Yes. Or "if the occasion ever arose", or anything similar, yes.02br
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00Perhaps I 11b10should12b10 say she did not trust us at all. (if I were asked)12blockqu
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