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Paul Evdokimov Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
would for non-habitual activity
Hi there,
The author maintains that the following sentences are equal in terms of meaning:
They tried to work as quickly as possible to minimize the patient's suffering.
They would work as quickly as possible to minimize the patient's suffering.
I wouldn't consider the first sentence to be a description of their daily routine because 'patient' is singular and definite. Why 'would' in the second sentence is legit for non habitual activity in the past then?
Thanks for your comments.
The author maintains that the following sentences are equal in terms of meaning:
They tried to work as quickly as possible to minimize the patient's suffering.
They would work as quickly as possible to minimize the patient's suffering.
I wouldn't consider the first sentence to be a description of their daily routine because 'patient' is singular and definite. Why 'would' in the second sentence is legit for non habitual activity in the past then?
Thanks for your comments.
Top answer
The patient here is suffering over an extended period and needing efforts by the carers on numerous occasions, so the efforts are a daily routine/habit for that patient. However "tried to work" doesn't convey that very well unless it's clarified ("tried to work... each day/whenever it was needed") whereas "would" much more naturally conveys habit.
- The patient here is suffering over an extended period and needing efforts by the carers on numerous occasions, so the efforts are a daily routine/habit for that patient.
- However "tried to work" doesn't convey that very well unless it's clarified ("tried to work...
- each day/whenever it was needed") whereas "would" much more naturally conveys habit.
- "tried to work" also carries more of a sense that they might fail, whereas "would work" is more positive, with a sense that they might have success.
- d
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1 Answers
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The patient here is suffering over an extended period and needing efforts by the carers on numerous occasions, so the efforts are a daily routine/habit for that patient. However "tried to work" doesn't convey that very well unless it's clarified ("tried to work... each day/whenever it was needed") whereas "would" much more naturally conveys habit.
"tried to work" also carries more of a se
"tried to work" also carries more of a se
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