sentence difference

Question

What is the difference between these sentences.We were hoping that you would have a copy of the article.We were hoping that you had a copy of the article.Are both sentences correct?Thanks.

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

AnonymousAre both sentences correct?

Yes.

Anonymous · Answer

AlpheccaStars AnonymousAre both sentences correct?Yes.

Thanks a lot. Do they have the same meaning? specifically is the a difference in meaning between using ' you would have' and 'you had' in that sentence?

CalifJim · Answer

Same meaning; different attitude.

What do you think the difference is in attitude?

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJimSame meaning; different attitude.What do you think the difference is in attitude?CJ

More polite with 'would have'. Right?

But I though there was a difference in meaning, where the first one with 'you had' implies that the person already had the article, and 'would have' implies that the person could get the article if they wanted to but they did not actually have it at the time of asking. Isn't that somewhat implied?

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymous'would have' implies that the person could get the article if they wanted to but they did not actually have it at the time of asking. Isn't that somewhat implied?

No. I don't see that as a possible interpretation of this one.

To me the 'would' just makes it a more tentative (i.e., 'polite') request.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim Anonymous'would have' implies that the person could get the article if they wanted to but they did not actually have it at the time of asking. Isn't that somewhat implied?No. I don't see that as a possible interpretation of this one.To me the 'would' just makes it a more tentative (i.e., 'polite') request.CJ

I see. What about in the following sentences, would what I said be a possible interpretation?

I was hoping you would help John for the exam.
I was hoping you helped John for the exam.

The first implies that the hope for help has bot yet happened as the person is speaking and the second implies that the hope was that the help had happened as the person was speaking. That's how I see it. Do you agree?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousI was hoping you would help John

You changed from a stative verb (had) to a dynamic verb (help). That complicates things. Now the simple past is vague or ambiguous in meaning. Only 'would help' makes sense to me. I was hoping that you would (be willing) to help John (once).

Present: I'm hoping you will help John. / I'm hoping you help John.
The second seems to say I'm hoping that you help John on a regular on-going basis.

Past: I was hoping you would help John. / I was hoping you helped John.
By analogy the second says the same as the second one above, but in the past. I was hoping that you helped John on a regular on-going basis. But it also seems to say I was hoping that you had helped John (maybe just once).

AnonymousThe first implies that the hope for help has bot yet happened as the person is speaking and the second implies that the hope was that the help had happened as the person was speaking.

That is one interpretation. Yes. See above.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousI was hoping you would help JohnYou changed from a stative verb (had) to a dynamic verb (help). That complicates things. Now the simple past is vague or ambiguous in meaning. Only 'would help' makes sense to me. I was hoping that you would (be willing) to help John (once).Present: I'm hoping you will help John. / I'm hoping you help John.The second seems to say I'm hoping that you help John on a regular on-going basis.Past: I was hoping you would help John. / I was hoping you helped John.By analogy the second says the same as the second one above, but in the past. I was hoping that you helped John on a regular on-going basis. But it also seems to say I was hoping that you had helped John (maybe just once).AnonymousThe first implies that the hope for help has bot yet happened as the person is speaking and the second implies that the hope was that the help had happened as the person was speaking.That is one interpretation. Yes. See above.CJ

Thanks for your explanation teacher.

What did you mean by I changed from a stative verb to a dynamic verb? Did you mean that the example from my original question is different from the second sentence I asked about in the which the possible interpretation I asked about applies, and which is the reason why it applies as you showed?

CalifJim · Answer

AnonymousWhat did you mean by I changed from a stative verb to a dynamic verb?

Stative verbs (be, know, have, ...) often act differently than dynamic verbs (help, run, find, ...) in certain grammatical patterns. I was just pointing that out for the cases of 'have' (stative) and 'help' (dynamic). They act a little differently.

I hoped that you had ... and I hoped that you helped ... work differently, as you saw in my examples and discussion.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

CalifJim AnonymousWhat did you mean by I changed from a stative verb to a dynamic verb?Stative verbs (be, know, have, ...) often act differently than dynamic verbs (help, run, find, ...) in certain grammatical patterns. I was just pointing that out for the cases of 'have' (stative) and 'help' (dynamic). They act a little differently.I hoped that you had ... and I hoped that you helped ... work differently, as you saw in my examples and discussion.CJ

Got it. I can't thank you enough CJ. Thank you teacher!

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