0
Tinanam0102 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
would have thought...if not downright ugly
Hi teachers,
Anyone unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog......But the true lover of an ancient and honourable breed would have recognised the blood and bone of this elderly and rather battered body; would have known that in his prime this had been a magnificent specimen of compact, bred to fight and endure; and would have loved him for his curious mixture of wicked,....family pet.
The writer used 3 times of would have + past participle about the dog, what is this usage? Can you break down the sentence for me?
Thank you.
Tinanam
Anyone unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog......But the true lover of an ancient and honourable breed would have recognised the blood and bone of this elderly and rather battered body; would have known that in his prime this had been a magnificent specimen of compact, bred to fight and endure; and would have loved him for his curious mixture of wicked,....family pet.
The writer used 3 times of would have + past participle about the dog, what is this usage? Can you break down the sentence for me?
Thank you.
Tinanam
Top answer
It is a kind of conditional. The subject has conflated the if-clause into a noun phrase. Here is the expanded version: If one were unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty, one would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog In the following sentence, but introduces the contrasting (opposing) if-clause: But if they were a true lover, they would have.....
- It is a kind of conditional.
- The subject has conflated the if-clause into a noun phrase.
- Here is the expanded version: If one were unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty, one would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog In the following sentence, but introduces the contrasting (opposing) if-clause: But if they were a true lover, they would have.....
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
4 Answers
0
It is a kind of conditional. The subject has conflated the if-clause into a noun phrase.
Here is the expanded version:
If one were unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty, one would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog
In the following sentence, but introduces the contrasting (opposing) if-clause:
But if they were a true
Here is the expanded version:
If one were unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty, one would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog
In the following sentence, but introduces the contrasting (opposing) if-clause:
But if they were a true
00
Hi AlpheccaStars,
1. If I had had enough money, I would have bought the dress. The result is I didn't buy the dress.
2. If I didn't know you better, I would have thought you were trying to steal from me. The result is I didn't think you were.
3. In the original sentence. "If one...., one would have thought...." Did they think so?
Thanks
1. If I had had enough money, I would have bought the dress. The result is I didn't buy the dress.
2. If I didn't know you better, I would have thought you were trying to steal from me. The result is I didn't think you were.
3. In the original sentence. "If one...., one would have thought...." Did they think so?
Thanks
00
Here is the expanded version:
If one were unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty, one would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog
3. In the original sentence. "If one...., one would have thought...." Did they think so?
If they did not appreciate the beauty of bull terriers, yes, they would have considered him ugly.
If one were unaccustomed to the rather peculiar points of bull terrier beauty, one would have thought him a strange if not downright ugly dog
3. In the original sentence. "If one...., one would have thought...." Did they think so?
If they did not appreciate the beauty of bull terriers, yes, they would have considered him ugly.
00
Related Questions