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Anonymous Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Would

Financially it worked out well but it was not enough. Soon after returning to Maryland, he began devising another scheme. He would kill his friend 'Thomas', assume his identity, and cash in on his victim's wealth.

Is this would past habitual? If yes, I don't see any repetition because it's just one friend. Please help.
  

Top answer

No. It's the backshifted form of 'will' for a future in the past.

— Fivejedjon

  • No.
  • It's the backshifted form of 'will' for a future in the past.
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11 Answers
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No. It's the backshifted form of 'will' for a future in the past.
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fivejedjonNo. It's the backshifted form of 'will' for a future in the past.
I couldn't understand you Sir. What do you mean by backshifted? Would you mind explaining with examples please?
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It would have been better if had said 'past-tense form'.

If I see someone for the last time, I will never see them again.
I saw my father on Christmas day, 1997. I would never see him again. (He died the following day).
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fivejedjonIt would have been better if had said 'past-tense form'.If I see someone for the last time, I will never see them again.I saw my father on Christmas day, 1997. I would never see him again. (He died the following day).
Whats the difference in context between backshifted would and regular would of past of will? And also does following day mean the same
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Anonymous What do you mean by backshifted?
Backshifted usually applies to reported speech versus quoted speech.
The verb in the direct quote is shifted back by one tense.

John said, "I will meet you in London on New Years Eve."
Reported speech:
John said that he would meet you in London on New Years Eve.

"Would" has many us
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Anonymous And also does following day mean the same day?
I saw my father on Christmas day, 1997. I would never see him again. (He died the following day).

This says that his father died on December 26, 1997, the day after Christmas.
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AlpheccaStars Anonymous What do you mean by backshifted?Backshifted usually applies to reported speech versus quoted speech.The verb in the direct quote is shifted back by one tense.John said, "I will meet you in London on New Years Eve."Reported speech:John said that he would meet you in London on New Years Eve."Would" has many uses. Look in a good dictionary to see the
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He would kill his friend 'Thomas', . . .

Is this would past habitual? Not unless Thomas has nine lives, like a cat.
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Clive He would kill his friend 'Thomas', . . . Is this would past habitual? Not unless Thomas has nine lives, like a cat.
Cats don't have nine lives. ??
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AnonymousIs this backshifted 'would' of the past of 'will'?
Yes. 'will' changes to 'would' when you backshift the verbs in a sentence, just as the present tense changes to the past tense.

She says she will leave soon.
She said she would leave soon.

C
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