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Guest Posted 21 years ago
Linguistics Studies
Quick question ! (Not short though :))
How would you say 'Was he going to be able to do it?' in proper English?
More specifically, I want to stress a situation in which a person would attempt to do something in the past but noone was sure that if he could do it. And in our present time, although the result is already known, let's say a narrator asks the aforementioned question.
Time line --> A ------ B ------ C (order of occurance) (I mean A
The question is asked at time C.
The question refers to time A (regarding the state of subject person).
B is the time that presumed action of subject person could occur.
Thanks in advance for your answers !
Inanc
More specifically, I want to stress a situation in which a person would attempt to do something in the past but noone was sure that if he could do it. And in our present time, although the result is already known, let's say a narrator asks the aforementioned question.
Time line --> A ------ B ------ C (order of occurance) (I mean A
The question is asked at time C.
The question refers to time A (regarding the state of subject person).
B is the time that presumed action of subject person could occur.
Thanks in advance for your answers !
Inanc
Top answer
Hello Guest I assume that we have to find a form of words that could apply whether or not the attempt was successful. ) On that basis, my effort is: 1. Did he seem able to do it?
- Hello Guest I assume that we have to find a form of words that could apply whether or not the attempt was successful.
- ) On that basis, my effort is: 1.
- Did he seem able to do it?
- I'd be very interested to see other people's suggestions.
- ) MrP
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7 Answers
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Hello Guest
I assume that we have to find a form of words that could apply whether or not the attempt was successful.
(This rules out 'Could he have done it?', for instance, which suggests that he didn't in fact do it.)
On that basis, my effort is:
1. Did he seem able to do it?
I'd be very interested to see other people's suggestions.
(
I assume that we have to find a form of words that could apply whether or not the attempt was successful.
(This rules out 'Could he have done it?', for instance, which suggests that he didn't in fact do it.)
On that basis, my effort is:
1. Did he seem able to do it?
I'd be very interested to see other people's suggestions.
(
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0 Hi, 02 br
00 Well, I guess I'm totally missing the point at issue here, because to me 02 br
02 br
00 'Was he going to be able to do it?' 02 br
02 br
00 sounds like proper English and the answer to your question. 02 br
00 No doubt I need to think more deeply? 02 br
02 br
00 Best wishes, 02 br
00 Clive 0-
00 Well, I guess I'm totally missing the point at issue here, because to me 02 br
02 br
00 'Was he going to be able to do it?' 02 br
02 br
00 sounds like proper English and the answer to your question. 02 br
00 No doubt I need to think more deeply? 02 br
02 br
00 Best wishes, 02 br
00 Clive 0-
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0 01 blockquote
02 br
00 Sounds OK to me too Clive. Thought we were just putting up suggestions! 05 0 010id 8
00 'Was he going to be able to do it?' 12 blockquote12 br
02 br
00 Sounds OK to me too Clive. Thought we were just putting up suggestions! 05 0 010id 8
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0 Well, let's see: 02 br
01 blockquote
01 blockquote
00 So there we were again. Another World Cup, another penalty shootout. 12 br
12 br
10 Beckham put the ball on the spot and walked slowly back. 12 br
12 br
10 A nation hid behind its sofas. 12 br
12 br
11 i 10 ______________ 12 i 10 ? 12 br
12 br
12 bl
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