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Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Grammar
Would vs present tense
Could somebody tell me what the exact difference between these two sentences in meaning? I am really confused. Please help.
He would never lie. Vs. He never lies.
He would never lie. Vs. He never lies.
Top answer
"He would never lie" has a more hypothetical feel, envisioning a situation in which he might be tempted but would nevertheless resist. "He never lies" describes his actual observed behaviour. Less commonly, "He would never lie" may describe habitual behaviour in the past.
- "He would never lie" has a more hypothetical feel, envisioning a situation in which he might be tempted but would nevertheless resist.
- "He never lies" describes his actual observed behaviour.
- Less commonly, "He would never lie" may describe habitual behaviour in the past.
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1 Answers
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"He would never lie" has a more hypothetical feel, envisioning a situation in which he might be tempted but would nevertheless resist. "He never lies" describes his actual observed behaviour.
Less commonly, "He would never lie" may describe habitual behaviour in the past.
Less commonly, "He would never lie" may describe habitual behaviour in the past.
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