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D_say Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Would that ....!

Dear friends,

Could you please define why we have not used were instead of had and why not had instead of were?

Would that I were rich!

Would that his brother had killed the snake!

Many thanks,

D_say
  

Top answer

1-- 'had rich' makes no sense in English-- we cannot possess an adjective. 2-- 'were killed the snake' makes no sense in English-- passive voice does not take an object.

— Mister Micawber

  • 1-- 'had rich' makes no sense in English-- we cannot possess an adjective.
  • 2-- 'were killed the snake' makes no sense in English-- passive voice does not take an object.
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1 Answers
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1-- 'had rich' makes no sense in English-- we cannot possess an adjective.
2-- 'were killed the snake' makes no sense in English-- passive voice does not take an object.
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