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J Lin Posted 13 years ago
Grammar
Will or Would
I've always had trouble using these to modal verbs, whether to use them in conditionals or to talk about willingness, I find it very confusing.
I found this quote in the book ive been reading. " I blame her for this ridiculous, fatal chase—for putting us at risk, for making me into the kind of jackass who (would) stay up all night and drive too fast." Why did the author use would? the story is written in present tense and don't we use would for what people wanted to do in the past? Or is this some kind of conditional? I think he should have used will, would that change the meaning?
I found this quote in the book ive been reading. " I blame her for this ridiculous, fatal chase—for putting us at risk, for making me into the kind of jackass who (would) stay up all night and drive too fast." Why did the author use would? the story is written in present tense and don't we use would for what people wanted to do in the past? Or is this some kind of conditional? I think he should have used will, would that change the meaning?
Top answer
J Lin Why did the author use would? the story is written in present tense and don't we use would for what people wanted to do in the past? Or is this some kind of conditional?
- J Lin Why did the author use would?
- the story is written in present tense and don't we use would for what people wanted to do in the past?
- Or is this some kind of conditional?
- Yes, it is a hidden conditional: ...
- the kind of jackass who would stay up all night and drive too fast [ if he had the desire or opportunity to do so] .
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J LinWhy did the author use would? the story is written in present tense and don't we use would for what people wanted to do in the past? Or is this some kind of conditional?Yes, it is a hidden conditional: ...the kind of jackass who would stay up all night and drive too fast [if he had the desire or opportunity to do so].
J Lin
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