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Taka Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
With
With a little more wool, she would knit another sweater.
How would you interpret the sentence above?
(1) She doesn't have a little more wool. If she had it, she would knit another sweater.
(2) She does have a little more wool. So perhaps she will knit another sweater.
(3) Ambiguous.
How would you interpret the sentence above?
(1) She doesn't have a little more wool. If she had it, she would knit another sweater.
(2) She does have a little more wool. So perhaps she will knit another sweater.
(3) Ambiguous.
Top answer
#1 or 'If she had a little more wool, she would ( past habit ) knit another sweater' . #2 seems inappropriate.
- #1 or 'If she had a little more wool, she would ( past habit ) knit another sweater' .
- #2 seems inappropriate.
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12 Answers
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#1 or 'If she had a little more wool, she would (past habit) knit another sweater'. #2 seems inappropriate.
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#1 is the reasonable, automatic interpretation. I sense no ambiguity.
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Taka......With a little more wool, she would knit another sweater.
1) She doesn't have a little more wool. If she had it, she would knit another sweater. the likely meaning
(2) She does have a little more wool. So perhaps she will knit another sweater. only if she was kintti
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Mister Micawber#1 or 'If she had a little more wool, she would (past habit) knit another sweater'. #2 seems inappropriate.Yes. That's more probable.
So, when we have 'with X, S would/could do', 'with X' doesn't necessarily imply the subjunctive (counterfactual) mood, right?
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Taka, 'with X' doesn't necessarily imply the subjunctive (counterfactual) mood, right?No, not at all.
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Good.
Would you come up with any examples in which 'with X' of 'With X, S could/would do' is not counterfactual, MM?
Would you come up with any examples in which 'with X' of 'With X, S could/would do' is not counterfactual, MM?
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Why don't you give it a try, Taka, and post them here? Just use 'would' as past habit.
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What about this?
He's worked very hard, and I has a lot of money at hand now. With that money, he could/might buy a Mercedes-Benz.
Does the underlined part sound counterfactual?
He's worked very hard, and I has a lot of money at hand now. With that money, he could/might buy a Mercedes-Benz.
Does the underlined part sound counterfactual?
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TakaHe's worked very hard, and I has a lot of money at hand now. With that money, he could/might buy a Mercedes-Benz.Does the underlined part sound counterfactual?No. We know it's not counterfactual because you told us in the first sentence.
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