Usage of would

Question

Hi,Are this sentences correct?- It would be better if you come in the evening.- I  would be there had if I took the the flight.- I would have been there had if I boarded the flight.- Who knows where would we be after four years?Thanks.

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

It would be better if you come in the evening.

This is acceptable. Also, It would be better if you came in the evening.
_____

I would be there had if I took the the flight.

No. had if is not a grammatical combination. Leave out had. You also have the the.

I would be there if I took the flight.
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I would have been there had if I boarded the flight.

Again you have had if, which is not correct. Place had after I.

I would have been there if I had boarded the flight.
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Who knows where would we be after four years?

This might be acceptable in the right context if you correct the word order, changing would we to we would. As an isolated sentence, however, I prefer will instead of would.

Who knows where we will be after four years?

Or, in the past:

Who knew where we would be after four years?

CJ

Dumbsejal · Answer

Thanks CJ, but I still have some doubts in the last sentence.

Isn't it better to use would, If I am not sure what will happen in the future?

-Who knows where we will be after four years?

-Who knows where we would be after four years?

Also, should I finish the sentence with a question mark or a full stop?

Thanks.

Dumbsejal · Answer

Also, can we replace "do" with "would" as shown in the following sentences to make them more polite.

- Would you know the way to xyz street?

- Would you go to xyz street?

- Would you tell me the name of that person? (Or should I write "can" or "could"?)

- What would I make out of that? (or "should","could") (Is this sentence correct or should I drop "out" from it?)

Thanks.

CalifJim · Answer

dumbsejalIsn't it better to use would, If I am not sure what will happen in the future?

No. Nobody is ever certain what will happen in the future. The fact that you are asking a question already expresses the idea that you don't know, so there is no reason to use would. Besides, you are asking for simple factual information, not requesting a favor, so the would of politeness is not appropriate either.

dumbsejalshould I finish the sentence with a question mark or a full stop?

A question mark. "Who knows ...?"

CJ

CalifJim · Answer

dumbsejalAlso, can we replace "do" with "would" as shown in the following sentences to make them more polite.
- Would you know the way to xyz street?

- Would you go to xyz street?

- Would you tell me the name of that person? (Or should I write "can" or "could"?)

- What would I make out of that? (or "should","could") (Is this sentence correct or should I drop "out" from it?)Yes, you could make those replacements.

Would you tell me ...?
Can you tell me ...?
Could you tell me ...?

All OK.
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If you say "make of that", you're talking about making an interpretation of a situation. Somebody tied a shoe to this lamp! What do you make of that?

If you say "make out of that", you're talking about creating a product of some kind from some materials. I have some rice and some carrots left over from yesterday. I wonder what (dish) I can make out of that.

What would I make ...? (Give me a suggestion.)

What should I make ...? (Give me advice.)

What could I make ...? (Tell me what's possible.)

All OK.

CJ

Dumbsejal · Answer

Thanks a lot for these elaborate replies CJ.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/74.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/74.gif' alt='Emotion: bow'/>

Usage of would

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