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Jooney Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Would
Hi,
The two S.A.E. brothers were asked trivia questions about the fraternity. If they gave a wrong answer they were supposed to drink a shot of vodka. As George Desdunes’s roommate would later tell the police, “The purpose is to tie up the brother and get him drunk.”
I've spent a lot of time studying the various uses of would, but I still encounter tricky cases here and there.
Q1) Is this an example of factual would?
Q2) I find factual would just as tricky as past perfect. Could you explain the use of factual would in great detail please?
I'd appreciate your help.
The two S.A.E. brothers were asked trivia questions about the fraternity. If they gave a wrong answer they were supposed to drink a shot of vodka. As George Desdunes’s roommate would later tell the police, “The purpose is to tie up the brother and get him drunk.”
I've spent a lot of time studying the various uses of would, but I still encounter tricky cases here and there.
Q1) Is this an example of factual would?
Q2) I find factual would just as tricky as past perfect. Could you explain the use of factual would in great detail please?
I'd appreciate your help.
Top answer
Great detail is not necessary. Here would is the future of the past. It means was going to (and did).
- Great detail is not necessary.
- Here would is the future of the past.
- It means was going to (and did).
- " CJ
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8 Answers
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Great detail is not necessary.
Here would is the future of the past. It means was going to (and did).
Later George's roomate [would / was going to ] tell the police, (and did), "...."
CJ
Here would is the future of the past. It means was going to (and did).
Later George's roomate [would / was going to ] tell the police, (and did), "...."
CJ
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Hi,
Let's take a very simple and short example.
In 1990, Tom studied chemistry in high school. In 2010 he would win a Nobel Prize. But in high school his teachers thought he was just an average student.
In this example, the writer i
Let's take a very simple and short example.
In 1990, Tom studied chemistry in high school. In 2010 he would win a Nobel Prize. But in high school his teachers thought he was just an average student.
In this example, the writer i
00
Thank you for the reply, CJ.
From the perspective of some past reference point, the time of a situation is future, but it is in past time when looking at it from the utterance time. That is how I understand this use of would.
ex) But with “Saving All My Love for You,” she won her first Grammy award, for best female pop vocal performance, an award she would win t
From the perspective of some past reference point, the time of a situation is future, but it is in past time when looking at it from the utterance time. That is how I understand this use of would.
ex) But with “Saving All My Love for You,” she won her first Grammy award, for best female pop vocal performance, an award she would win t
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Thank you for the reply, Clive.
So it boils down to the two different ways of looking at the event of his wining a Nobel Prize.
My question is what subtlety or nuance does this difference in perspective make in terms of meaning.
So it boils down to the two different ways of looking at the event of his wining a Nobel Prize.
My question is what subtlety or nuance does this difference in perspective make in terms of meaning.
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Hi,
I thought I had explained that in my last post,
It shows the writer's focus.It helps us understand the way the writer is thinking.
In short, it helps us understand what he means..
Clive
I thought I had explained that in my last post,
It shows the writer's focus.It helps us understand the way the writer is thinking.
In short, it helps us understand what he means..
Clive
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jooneyFrom the perspective of some past reference point, the time of a situation is future, but it is in past time when looking at it from the utterance time. That is how I understand this use of would.Yes. Primary reference (as usual) = the present; the moment of utterance. Secondary reference point = the past. Time indicated by "would" = after the second
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