0
Tinanam0102 Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Would have thrown them off
Hi teachers,
A scene from a TV series. Two scent dogs were following trails to a dead end. They stopped and kept running in circle. Not far from the the dogs stood was a dumpster, where there was a tiny blood inside. But the crew had not noticed it at that time. They came back again some time later to check the dumpster. And this time they found some blood. Then one of them says: If it's her blood, maybe that's why the scent dogs lost their trail. The odor from the dumpster would have thrown them off.
I understand the part "the dog lost their trail", but not the "would have thrown them off". It mean the odor did not throw the dogs off, is it correct? Would you please explain it to me?
Thank you in advance.
Tinanam
A scene from a TV series. Two scent dogs were following trails to a dead end. They stopped and kept running in circle. Not far from the the dogs stood was a dumpster, where there was a tiny blood inside. But the crew had not noticed it at that time. They came back again some time later to check the dumpster. And this time they found some blood. Then one of them says: If it's her blood, maybe that's why the scent dogs lost their trail. The odor from the dumpster would have thrown them off.
I understand the part "the dog lost their trail", but not the "would have thrown them off". It mean the odor did not throw the dogs off, is it correct? Would you please explain it to me?
Thank you in advance.
Tinanam
Top answer
Hi, The 'would ' shows that the speaker is making a deduction, about which he is not completely sure. eg (If my thinking is correct) the odor would have thrown them off. We also see his lack of certainty in his use of the word 'maybe'.
- Hi, The 'would ' shows that the speaker is making a deduction, about which he is not completely sure.
- eg (If my thinking is correct) the odor would have thrown them off.
- We also see his lack of certainty in his use of the word 'maybe'.
- ' Clive
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
8 Answers
0
Hi,
The 'would ' shows that the speaker is making a deduction, about which he is not completely sure.
eg (If my thinking is correct) the odor would have thrown them off.
We also see his lack of certainty in his use of the word 'maybe'.
The 'would ' shows that the speaker is making a deduction, about which he is not completely sure.
eg (If my thinking is correct) the odor would have thrown them off.
We also see his lack of certainty in his use of the word 'maybe'.
00
Hi Clive,
Thanks for answering my question.
Does that mean "even if the dogs had gone near enough the dumpster where there's little blood inside and because of very little blood, the odor would have thrown them off"? The real fact is the dogs were never near the dumpster.
Thanks
Tinanam
Thanks for answering my question.
Does that mean "even if the dogs had gone near enough the dumpster where there's little blood inside and because of very little blood, the odor would have thrown them off"? The real fact is the dogs were never near the dumpster.
Thanks
Tinanam
00
Hi,
Does that mean "even if the dogs had gone near enough the dumpster where there's little blood inside and because of very little blood, the odor would have thrown them off"? Yes, that's the idea.
The real fact is the dogs were never near the dumpster. If you say so. But the original text you posted does not te
Does that mean "even if the dogs had gone near enough the dumpster where there's little blood inside and because of very little blood, the odor would have thrown them off"? Yes, that's the idea.
The real fact is the dogs were never near the dumpster. If you say so. But the original text you posted does not te
00
Hi Clive,
I'm sorry I meant to say: "The fact is the dogs were never near enough the dumpster". It was about ten or fifteen steps, which is within sight. The dogs were just chasing their tails.
Would you please correct my sentence in which the tenses I'm not sure if they are correct? Thank you.
I'm sorry I meant to say: "The fact is the dogs were never near enough the dumpster". It was about ten or fifteen steps, which is within sight. The dogs were just chasing their tails.
Would you please correct my sentence in which the tenses I'm not sure if they are correct? Thank you.
tinanam0102A scene from a TV series. Two
00
0
Hi Clive,
The following events I described. Some past tense, some past perfect. Would you correct the sentences below? Thank you.
The following events I described. Some past tense, some past perfect. Would you correct the sentences below? Thank you.
tinanam0102A scene from a TV series. Two scent dogs were following trails to a dead end. They stopped and kept running in circle. Not far from the the dogs stood was a dumpster, where there was a tiny blood inside. But t
00
Hi,
Oh, you mean 'sentences'.
“A scene from a TV series. Two scent dogs were following trails to a dead end. They stopped and kept running in circle. Not far from the the dogs stood was a dumpster, where there was a tiny blood inside. But the crew had not noticed
Oh, you mean 'sentences'.
“A scene from a TV series. Two scent dogs were following trails to a dead end. They stopped and kept running in circle. Not far from the the dogs stood was a dumpster, where there was a tiny blood inside. But the crew had not noticed
00
Hi Clive,
Thanks for correcting my sentences.
Have a great day.
Tinanam
Thanks for correcting my sentences.
Have a great day.
Tinanam
0
Related Questions