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Mitsuo23 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Tough Part: Will or Would

Hi, thank you for your help always.

I know "would" is one of the toughest part of English but I'd like to understand it better.

So this is my question: why the author is using "would"s instead of "will"s in the writing below? In other words, what effect is he trying to make by using "would"?

Mr. Pinto sighs and takes a deep breath. The world is on hold. Would he spill the story of the bride and groom? Would he fall and collapse on the lobby floor? I'm trapped there behind the desk at the mercy of this disorganized wedding party.

Thank you,
M
  

Top answer

You can come very close to the meaning of Would he ...? in this excerpt by paraphrasing it as Was he going to ...? Was he going to spill the story ...?

— CalifJim

  • You can come very close to the meaning of Would he ...?
  • in this excerpt by paraphrasing it as Was he going to ...?
  • Was he going to spill the story ...?
  • Was he going to fall and ...?
  • Given that the rest of the passage is in the present tense, the use of would as was going to instead of will as is going to is inexplicable.
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3 Answers
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You can come very close to the meaning of Would he ...? in this excerpt by paraphrasing it as Was he going to ...?

Was he going to spill the story ...?
Was he going to fall and ...?

Given that the rest of the passage is in the present tense, the use of would as was going to instead of will as is going to is inexplicabl
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If you say it's inexplicable, then it has to be inexplicable. The author actually write the whole book in the present tense except the two. I wanted to know why but seems like only he knows.

Thanks anyway,
M
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mitsuwao23The author actually write the whole book in the present tense except the two.
How strange and puzzling.

CJ
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