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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Would

Hello,

How would he escape? How would he have escaped?

Are both sentences past tense? In the first case, can we interpret would to mean 'was going to'? Then it would be past tense, just like the second? Is there a difference between the two?

Thanks,
  

Top answer

" makes it feel a bit like were "there at the time", asking the question. For example: "He was locked in a cell behind a steel door. e.

— Mr Wordy

  • " makes it feel a bit like were "there at the time", asking the question.
  • For example: "He was locked in a cell behind a steel door.
  • e.
  • " refers to a past action, but looking back from the perspective of the present, and mindful of the present consequences of the action: "We locked him in a cell.
  • ".
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1 Answers
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In a past tense narrative, "How would he escape?" makes it feel a bit like were "there at the time", asking the question. For example: "He was locked in a cell behind a steel door. How would he escape?" As you say, this is similar to "How was he going to escape?"

"How would he escape?" can also be a timeless hypothetical question (i.e. not set at any specific point in time): "If you lock
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