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Jack112 Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Would / Did
Do these have the same meaning? And what's the difference when I use 'if' versus 'when' ?
1. Why would you ask for his number if you're with your boyfriend?
2. Why would you ask for his number when you're with your boyfriend?
3. Why did you ask for his number if you're with your boyfriend? (Is 'did' here the same as #1? In #1 'would' is past tense?)
4. Why did you ask for his number when you're with your boyfriend?
Thanks.
1. Why would you ask for his number if you're with your boyfriend?
2. Why would you ask for his number when you're with your boyfriend?
3. Why did you ask for his number if you're with your boyfriend? (Is 'did' here the same as #1? In #1 'would' is past tense?)
4. Why did you ask for his number when you're with your boyfriend?
Thanks.
Top answer
2. 3 cannot work. 4 could possibly work if we render an unorthodox reading of the conjunction 'you're' to mean 'you were' (past tense).
- 2.
- 3 cannot work.
- 4 could possibly work if we render an unorthodox reading of the conjunction 'you're' to mean 'you were' (past tense).
- A poet might dare to do that in order to maintain poetic meter.
- In normal circumstances, however, you would have to write 'when you were with your boyfriend.
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4 Answers
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The conjunction 'you're' means 'you are', and that works equally well with no.1 and no.2.
No.3 cannot work. It would have to be, 'Why would you ask for his number if you were with your boyfriend?'
No.4 could possibly work if we render an unorthodox reading of the conjunction 'you're' to mean 'you were' (past tense). A poet might
No.3 cannot work. It would have to be, 'Why would you ask for his number if you were with your boyfriend?'
No.4 could possibly work if we render an unorthodox reading of the conjunction 'you're' to mean 'you were' (past tense). A poet might
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#1& #2 Imagine you are at a party and your friend Fran is there too, but she is with her boyfriend Bob. Then your friend Fran tells you that she is going to ask another boy Andy for his phone number. Then you can ask.........
Why would you ask for his number if you're with your boyfriend? ............OR
Why would you ask for his number when you're with your boyfriend?
Why would you ask for his number if you're with your boyfriend? ............OR
Why would you ask for his number when you're with your boyfriend?
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Hi Itsonlyme,
You got me to realize that I was [quite illogically] equating 'his number' with the boyfriend's number, when I was reading the original post.
I believe you've read it correctly.
I stand corrected.
You got me to realize that I was [quite illogically] equating 'his number' with the boyfriend's number, when I was reading the original post.
I believe you've read it correctly.
I stand corrected.
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Hi davkett,
It probably would have jumped right out at you if it would have said "girlfriend's number" :-)
It probably would have jumped right out at you if it would have said "girlfriend's number" :-)
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