Until

Question

Hello,How to write this in simple past: He was a persistent man and would not leave her alone until she accepted his offer. (my question is: because of until, is it better to say 'would have' instead of 'would'?)Thanks,

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

The sentence is fine as is. Would expresses inclination or intention and the present infinitive (leave) is fine with it in the sentence.

CB

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, CB. What I mean is: does it become conditional because of the word until and hence would have instead of would? Because until sort of imposes a condition on the outcome....

Cool Breeze · Answer

AnonymousHe was a persistent man and would not leave her alone until she accepted his offer.

There's nothing conditional in the sentence. Perhaps you don't understand it correctly?

He was a persistent man (Nothing conditional, 'persistent' describes the man.)
and would not leave her alone (States a fact: the man didn't leave the woman alone)
until she accepted his offer (The man left her alone when she had accepted his offer. Nothing conditional here either. The man left the woman alone after she accepted his offer.)

AnonymousHow to write this in simple past: He was a persistent man and would not leave her alone until she accepted his offer.

The sentence is in the simple past. If you want to make it conditional, you can use would not have left her alone.

Anonymousbecause of until, is it better to say 'would have' instead of 'would'?

No, would have her alone is wrong.

CB

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