0
Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Vocabulary

Would

"It is hard to pick a favourite. I know there is a replay still be played, but I would have to favour Arsenal." (BBC Sport website.)

In which way does the modal "would" modify the obligation "have to favour" in the above context? Is it tenderness, uncertainty?
  

Top answer

Anonymous It is hard to pick a favourite. I know there is a replay still to be played, but I would have to favour Arsenal. In that sentence, "would" is expressing a conditional mood.

— Teechr

  • Anonymous It is hard to pick a favourite.
  • I know there is a replay still to be played, but I would have to favour Arsenal.
  • In that sentence, "would" is expressing a conditional mood.
  • com/definition/english/would
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

4 Answers
0
AnonymousIt is hard to pick a favourite. I know there is a replay still to be played, but I would have to favour Arsenal.
In that sentence, "would" is expressing a conditional mood.
Have a look at meaning #2 in the link below:
0
0
teechrIn that sentence, "would" is expressing a conditional mood.Have a look at meaning #2 in the link below:http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/would
Thank you for the link. I presume that the meaning #5 ("Expressing a conjecture, opinion,
0
0
I parse it more like "If you asked me to pick a favourite, I would have to choose Arsenal."
0
0
I would say it is softening the expression of the speaker's opinion. It is possible to argue that this softening arises because of an implied conditional like "I would have to favour Arsenal (if I was asked my opinion)", or something similar.

(Cross-posted.)
0

Related Questions