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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Would or will
Hi,
Joe: Do you think John Doe who is going to be on our next show will tell what is in his mind?
Sue's possible responses:
1) I don't think he would be willing to tell what is in his mind if we asked him to. -- Correct. I think.
2) I don't think he would tell what is in his mind. -- Grammatically wrong, I think.
3) I don't think he will tell what is in his mind. -- Correct, I think, but is there any wayone can convey a sense of not-so-definiteness? The modal 'would' be incorrect to reference the future, then what can one use?
Joe: Do you think John Doe who is going to be on our next show will tell what is in his mind?
Sue's possible responses:
1) I don't think he would be willing to tell what is in his mind if we asked him to. -- Correct. I think.
2) I don't think he would tell what is in his mind. -- Grammatically wrong, I think.
3) I don't think he will tell what is in his mind. -- Correct, I think, but is there any wayone can convey a sense of not-so-definiteness? The modal 'would' be incorrect to reference the future, then what can one use?
Top answer
All the replies are ok. But I think you mean the idiom "on his mind" - Do you think he would tell us what is on his mind? )
- All the replies are ok.
- But I think you mean the idiom "on his mind" - Do you think he would tell us what is on his mind?
- )
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3 Answers
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All the replies are ok.
But I think you mean the idiom "on his mind" - Do you think he would tell us what is on his mind? (Do you think he will be honest with us?)
But I think you mean the idiom "on his mind" - Do you think he would tell us what is on his mind? (Do you think he will be honest with us?)
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Thank you, but with all due respect, this is what I think: I looked the sentences over and found that some might be wrong. Yes, I think I should have used "on his mind".
Additional comments made by me on my sentences:
Sue's possible responses:
1) I don't think he would be willing to tell what is (I think this should be 'was') in his mind if we asked him to. -- Correct
Additional comments made by me on my sentences:
Sue's possible responses:
1) I don't think he would be willing to tell what is (I think this should be 'was') in his mind if we asked him to. -- Correct
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1) I don't think he would be willing to tell what is (I think this should be 'was') in his mind if we asked him to. -- Correct. I think.
Yes, but the meanings are different:
I don't think he would be willing to tell what is on his mind if we asked him to -This means in the present time or at some future time when you asked, you think he
Yes, but the meanings are different:
I don't think he would be willing to tell what is on his mind if we asked him to -This means in the present time or at some future time when you asked, you think he
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