Would

Question

Hi everyone,Today I have had a conversation with one of my co-workers. I should firstly tell the subject that we were talking about. I will simplify it because the original one is a bit complicated.We have a number for every part we use. Then we have got two different screens which both of them include the parts with problems. Both of them exactly show the same part numbers. Our supervisor sent an e-mail asking us to inform him about the parts with problems. Then I replied it:"I have investigated the blue screen and we have no parts with a problem"A little later my co-worker responded:"I have look at the red screen and we have parts with problems. Do you know why this would be different than the blue screen?"Why did he used "would" rather than "can" or "is"? What does would mean here? I sense a little irony but I couldn't understand it completely.  I also cannot translate it to my main language.Can you give a hand about the meaning?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

White_StormDo you know why this would be different than the blue screen?

This use of 'Why ... would?' intimates that the listener should make a guess, should speculate, should offer an explanation (in this case, about the difference).

It's tangentially related to the use of 'would' in a conditional. Note these:

This difference would occur if the blue screen were malfunctioning.
This difference would occur if there were an electrical disturbance in the line leading to the blue screen.
This difference would occur if ...

They are similar to the actual answers you might receive, stated with "maybe".

— Do you know why this would be different than the blue screen?

— Maybe the blue screen is malfunctioning.
— Maybe there is an electrical disturbance in the line leading to the blue screen.
— Maybe ....
____________

Similarly,

Why would Tom do such a thing? ~ Try to explain Tom's behavior. Make a guess about his motivation.
Why would Lucy say that she's married when she is actually single?
Why would they paint that house dark brown?

Often, the question is just rhetorical. Nobody expects an answer because the answer is obvious.

Why would you pay more when you can pay less? ~ There is no reasonable explanation in the speaker's mind. In a fraction of a second, he asks the question, the listener can't think of good explanation, the listener concludes that there is no explanation, and the listener is persuaded that the speaker is right: It is irrational to pay more when you can pay less. You can see that this type of question is good to know if you are a salesman!
______________

Both might and should can substitute in this type of sentence.

Do you know why this [would / might / should] be different than the blue screen?
Why [would / might / should] Tom do such a thing?
Why [would / might / should] you pay more when you can pay less?

CJ

White_Storm · Answer

CalifJimWhy would Tom do such a thing?

Thanks for your answer CalifJim. I wonder can this include a meaning "Tom didn't do such a thing."? May the speaker be thinking "Why would he do such a thing. No explanation? Then he didn't do it."? Is it possible?

CalifJim · Answer

White_StormI wonder can this include a meaning "Tom didn't do such a thing."?

Yes, you're on the right track. It turns out that there are two forms of the question. We have only talked about one of them so far.

1. Why would Tom do such a thing?
2. Why would Tom have done such a thing?

If these are used strictly, 1 applies to the future (Tom hasn't done anything yet; maybe he has only said he might), and 2 applies to the past (Tom has actually done the thing already OR maybe it is unknown whether he did it).

That said, people don't use them strictly, and 1 is used for both situations described above.

CJ

White_Storm · Answer

Thanks for your explanation. I think I am still very weak about the modal verbs. I need to study more.

When it comes to the words of my work mate. As no one would not want to comment on it, I think I will find it out myself.

Would

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