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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Made as though she would have spoken
This novel is set in a Chinese village before World War One.
Today is the protagonist Wang Lung's wedding day.
He came to so big a house to take a bride-to-be, who is a maid, and he came inwards with the gate keeper to have an audience with the old mistress.
Wang Lung fell to his knees and knocked his head on the tiled floor.
"Raise him," said the old lady gravely to the gateman, "these obeisances are not necessary. Has he come for the woman?"
"Yes, Anceient One," replied the gateman.
"Why does he not speak for himself?" asked the old lady.
"Because he is a fool, Ancient One," said the gateman, twiring the hairs of his mole.
This roused Wang Lung and looked with indignation at the gateman.
"I am only a coarse person, Great and Ancient Lady," he said. "I do not know what words to use in such a presence."
The old lady looked at him carefully and with perfect gravity and made as though she would have spoken, except that her hand closed upon the pipe which a slave had been tending for her and at once she seemed to forget him.
<The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck>
I have been taught a conditional clause can't take "would."
So I was wondering why it is "as though she would have spoken," not "as though she had spoken."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Today is the protagonist Wang Lung's wedding day.
He came to so big a house to take a bride-to-be, who is a maid, and he came inwards with the gate keeper to have an audience with the old mistress.
Wang Lung fell to his knees and knocked his head on the tiled floor.
"Raise him," said the old lady gravely to the gateman, "these obeisances are not necessary. Has he come for the woman?"
"Yes, Anceient One," replied the gateman.
"Why does he not speak for himself?" asked the old lady.
"Because he is a fool, Ancient One," said the gateman, twiring the hairs of his mole.
This roused Wang Lung and looked with indignation at the gateman.
"I am only a coarse person, Great and Ancient Lady," he said. "I do not know what words to use in such a presence."
The old lady looked at him carefully and with perfect gravity and made as though she would have spoken, except that her hand closed upon the pipe which a slave had been tending for her and at once she seemed to forget him.
<The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck>
I have been taught a conditional clause can't take "would."
So I was wondering why it is "as though she would have spoken," not "as though she had spoken."
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
" No; 'as though she might have spoken [if she hadn't grabbed the pipe instead]'
- " No; 'as though she might have spoken [if she hadn't grabbed the pipe instead]'
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3 Answers
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park sang joonSo I was wondering why it is "as though she would have spoken," not "as though she had spoken."No; 'as though she might have spoken [if she hadn't grabbed the pipe instead]'
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Thank you, Mr. Micawber, for your So very kind answer as usual.
I know "as if" clause is a conditional clause.
But I can't assure myself that "as though" is a conditional clause.
If "as though" were "as if" here, then I was wondering if the author could have used "would have spoken."
I know "as if" clause is a conditional clause.
But I can't assure myself that "as though" is a conditional clause.
If "as though" were "as if" here, then I was wondering if the author could have used "would have spoken."
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park sang joonIf "as though" were "as if" here, then I was wondering if the author could have used "would have spoken."Yes.
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