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Icadia Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Would for criticizing somebody's typical behavior?
1.‘She said it was your fault.' ‘Well, she would say that, wouldn't she? She's never liked me.'
2. Sylvia said it was your fault.' ‘Well, Sylvia would say that, wouldn't she?'
3. You would go and spoil it, wouldn't you!
4. She insists that she did nothing wrong, but then she would say that, wouldn't she?
5. Well, you would say that: you're a man...
These examples are from some dictionaries. As long as I know, "Will" and "would" can be used to criticize somebody's typical behavior. My english grammar books explain "will" refers to the present, and "would" refers to the past in this case.
My question is about whether all of the examples refer to the past.
The speakers in No1 and No2 seem to criticize somebody's past behavior
However, In No3, No4, and No5 I am wondering if the speakers are really criticizing somebody's past behavior. It seem like they are talking about typical behavior in the present, not in the past.
What do you think about it? Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
2. Sylvia said it was your fault.' ‘Well, Sylvia would say that, wouldn't she?'
3. You would go and spoil it, wouldn't you!
4. She insists that she did nothing wrong, but then she would say that, wouldn't she?
5. Well, you would say that: you're a man...
These examples are from some dictionaries. As long as I know, "Will" and "would" can be used to criticize somebody's typical behavior. My english grammar books explain "will" refers to the present, and "would" refers to the past in this case.
My question is about whether all of the examples refer to the past.
The speakers in No1 and No2 seem to criticize somebody's past behavior
However, In No3, No4, and No5 I am wondering if the speakers are really criticizing somebody's past behavior. It seem like they are talking about typical behavior in the present, not in the past.
What do you think about it? Your advice would be appreciated. Thanks for reading.
Top answer
I think that they all refer to the past (this is the use of 'would' for insistence). Even with #4, what she actually said was in the past compared to the current statement.
- I think that they all refer to the past (this is the use of 'would' for insistence).
- Even with #4, what she actually said was in the past compared to the current statement.
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1 Answers
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I think that they all refer to the past (this is the use of 'would' for insistence). Even with #4, what she actually said was in the past compared to the current statement.
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