use of I "would"

Question

Wherever I looked I'd see herIs the above correct? Versus...Wherever I'd look, I'd see her

Tidus · Accepted Answer

Both are ok I think.  Matter of personal choice really.  I'd use "Wherever I looked".

ElevenTattic · Answer

I think you'd rather say "Wherever I look, I see her." without "would", because:

(apparently) the sentence is about anywhere you look, you can see her, and this kind of sentences is about something that's always or usually happening. "The Present Simple" is used in this kind of sentences, when you want to convey a meaning of something that's usually happening, for example:

"I play football everyday." means that football is a habit, that's usually (or even always) happening, and most importantly you "still" have this habit, and you'll still be playing football tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, etc

Same as:

"Wherever I LOOK, I SEE her." means anywhere you look at, you see her, use it especially when you want to indicate that this is still happening to you.

Anonymous · Answer

ElevenTattic
I think you'd rather say "Wherever I look, I see her." without "would", because:

(apparently) the sentence is about anywhere you look, you can see her, and this kind of sentences is about something that's always or usually happening. "The Present Simple" is used in this kind of sentences, when you want to convey a meaning of something that's usually happening, for example:

"I play football everyday." means that football is a habit, that's usually (or even always) happening, and most importantly you "still" have this habit, and you'll still be playing football tomorrow, the day after tomorrow, etc

Hi, ElevenTattic

Let me disagree. Both the OP's original sentences (Wherever I looked I'd see her and Wherever I'd look, I'd see her) are OK, as Tidus wrote, and they both clearly refer to the past.

I'd see her = I would see her, where would expresses past habit / action that regularly happened in the past.

See http://www.1-language.com/englishcoursenew/unit45_grammar.htm (paragraph "past habit").

S.

use of I "would"

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