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Clee62 Posted 15 years ago
Vocabulary
"were to "tire of something
Hi,
I am reading a novel, and here is a line says," If he were to tire of the Andalusian fields, he could sell his sheep and go to sea." I am not familiar with "were to" usage. Can anybody help me?
I know If conditional like "If i were you, I would tell the truth." But I am not sure about "If I were to tire of..."
Does it mean "IF he were going to tire of the Andalusian fields, he could..."?
Thanks
I am reading a novel, and here is a line says," If he were to tire of the Andalusian fields, he could sell his sheep and go to sea." I am not familiar with "were to" usage. Can anybody help me?
I know If conditional like "If i were you, I would tell the truth." But I am not sure about "If I were to tire of..."
Does it mean "IF he were going to tire of the Andalusian fields, he could..."?
Thanks
Top answer
Yes, but I don't like your version with 'going to'. I would paraphrase it as 'if he tired , he could'.
- Yes, but I don't like your version with 'going to'.
- I would paraphrase it as 'if he tired , he could'.
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3 Answers
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Yes, but I don't like your version with 'going to'. I would paraphrase it as 'if he tired, he could'.
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Hi,
The reason i said "going to" because I thought it is in a past continous tense just like the one in present continous tense. When we say," HE is to go somewhere" which means "he is going to go somewhere", right?
thanks
The reason i said "going to" because I thought it is in a past continous tense just like the one in present continous tense. When we say," HE is to go somewhere" which means "he is going to go somewhere", right?
thanks
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No, they are different future forms. 'He is to go' is an expression of future factuality, often because of a command or command-like commitment. 'He is going to go' is an expression of his plan.
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