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Drops333 Posted 9 years ago
Grammar

Would or did regarding future in the past?

Example sentence:

"I noticed my cat pulling about a bag of sweets that was on the table and got up to shoo him away before he would make a mess."

Does the would sound off here or should it be simple past instead? But then it might remove the implication that the cat might make a mess and make it sound like a fact that he did make a mess.

Thank you

  

Top answer

drops333 Does the would sound off here Yes. drops333 should it be simple past instead? Yes.

— Mister Micawber

  • drops333 Does the would sound off here Yes.
  • drops333 should it be simple past instead?
  • Yes.
  • drops333 But then it might remove the implication that the cat might make a mess and make it sound like a fact that he did make a mess.
  • No, it doesn't.
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1 Answers
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drops333Does the would sound off here

Yes.

drops333should it be simple past instead?

Yes.

drops333But then it might remove the implication that the cat might make a mess and make it sound like a fact that he did make a mess.

No, it doesn't.

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