Time Sequence

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Hi[1] For five years you would often think they would let you choose anything.  [2] For the last month you would often say you would see her again.I would just like to confirm if this 'would' is interchangeable with 'will' when the actions --- 'their letting you choose anything' and 'your seeing her again' --- haven't been started.ThanksHiro

Mr Wordy · Accepted Answer

Both sentences are ambiguous about whether the planned or expected choosing/seeing are still in the future or are now the past. So, the sentences would fit either context.

Both these sentences seem slightly awkward to me. The following seem better:

For five years you thought they would let you choose anything.
For the last month you've been saying you would see her again.

Fandorin · Answer

I don't think "would" is aprropriate here at all. One of the meanings I see your sentences is that would is similar to used to. But as you know, it is used when action doesn't takes place any longer.

Mr Wordy · Answer

FandorinI don't think "would" is aprropriate here at all. One of the meanings I see your sentences is that would is similar to used to. But as you know, it is used when action doesn't takes place any longer.

The second "would" in each sentence is fine. In the second sentence it indicates future-in-the-past. In the first sentence it probably indicates future-in-the-past but could conceivably indicate habitual action in the past.

The first "would" indicates habitual action in the past, which is a perfectly good use but in these particular sentence structures seems slightly awkward to me, especially in the second sentence.

Fandorin · Answer

Hi Mr.Wordy. I go along with you.

Mr WordyThe first "would" indicates habitual action in the past, which is a perfectly good use but in these particular sentence structures seems slightly awkward to me, especially in the second sentence.

That's what I meant here. I took them as a whole structure which doesn't really sound well to both of us. Thanks for your reply

Mr Wordy · Answer

FandorinThat's what I meant here.

Sorry Fandorin ... I didn't realise you were only talking about the first "would".

Fandorin · Answer

Never mind <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>  I hope we will see what the poster makes out of what he wrote himself.

HSS · Answer

HSS[1] For five years you would often think they would let you choose anything.
[2] For the last month you would often say you would see her again.

I was thinking you could say [1] to mean 'You repeatedly thought they would let you choose anything,' or 'You repeatedly said you would see her again.' Is it maybe also because of 'for five years' or ' for the last month' that the sentences sound odd? Does dropping off of the phrases make them sound natural?

Mr Wordy · Answer

HSS
I was thinking you could say [1] to mean 'You repeatedly thought they would let you choose anything,' or 'You repeatedly said you would see her again.'

Your logic is correct...

HSS
Is it maybe also because of 'for five years' or ' for the last month' that the sentences sound odd? Does dropping off of the phrases make them sound natural?

... but to me there seem to be at least three things that conspire to make the sentences feel slightly odd with "would". The first is, as, you say, the phrases "for five years" and (especially) "for the last month". The second is the repetition of "would", which seems stylistically awkward. The third is that it's relatively unusual to use "would" in this sense with "you". It seems to need something else, like "I remember how you would...", or it seems to need to be talking about events a long time ago, perhaps events that the person being addressed doesn't necessarily remember clearly, or something...

HSS · Answer

Hi. Considering your pointers, I've come up with a new text. I'd appreciate it if you would let me know how you like it.

Way back in your childhood, you'd easily think your doting parents would let you do anything, and they'd actually often let you do anything. But they were really worried that might lead you in the wrong way.

Spacedunce-5 · Answer

HSSWay back in your childhood, you'd easily think your doting parents would let you do anything, and they actually would. But they were really worried that doing so (instead of "that that") might lead you in the wrong direction (or lead you astray).

To those that say the original contexts wre odd, think "second-person novel."

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