Would

It's not a great sentence in my opinion (though not specifically because of "would"). "would" probably expresses the speaker's inference, or an inference that seems generally reasonable, i.e. a little short of stating a definite fact.

GPYIt's not a great sentence in my opinion (though not specifically because of "would"). "would" probably expresses the speaker's inference, or an inference that seems generally reasonable, i.e. a little short of stating a definite fact.

The context is that an FBI agent is telling about A case that was solved a long time ago to somebody. could it mean past of

Anonymous... where that would indicate (that) she ran off ...

I interpret it as

... where that indicates (it seems to me) that she ran off ...

Thus, it is just short of a definitive claim that it indicates that she ran off with somebody.

AnonymousIs this would tentative?

Given my remarks above, I sup

Anonymouscould it mean past of will by any chance?

No, not in any useful sense. (I say "useful sense" because by derivation "would" is the past tense of "will". However, it is now used for multiple purposes, only one of which truly conveys the meaning of a past tense of "will".)

GPY Anonymouscould it mean past of will by any chance?No, not in any useful sense. (I say "useful sense" because by derivation "would" is the past tense of "will". However, it is now used for multiple purposes, only one of which truly conveys the meaning of a past tense of "will".)

Would is used for past of will, for imaginations, past habititual, tentativenes

Anonymoustentativeness, politeness

I think you can just about conflate these two into one. What makes something polite is often the fact that it is stated tentatively or deferentially.

Your other categories seem all right, provided you are including under "imagination" all hypothetical or theoretical clauses with 'would'.

You can look for th

CalifJim Anonymoustentativeness, politenessI think you can just about conflate these two into one. What makes something polite is often the fact that it is stated tentatively or deferentially.Your other categories seem all right, provided you are including under "imagination" all hypothetical or theoretical clauses with 'would'.You can look for these uses and others in mo

Anonymous7. Used to indicate uncertainty: He would seem to be getting better. Does it mean tentativeness?

They are similar. Yes.

CJ