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MFarooq Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Would/ were
Hi,
Can we use " WERE" instead of "WOULD" in the last dialogue? Because I think speaker "A" is talking about the past. Or in this situation, both of these (would/were) can be used? If would is correct, how come?
Situation is as follows;
A car accident happened and boy and girl friends are talking about it.
A: You really do not have any faith in me, do you, Jerry?
B: Hey, I had enough faith in you to lean my car and let the run into a truck.
A: I can see. I can never be able to convince you.
B: I am always open to truth.
A: Even though, that was not my fault because I did tell I "WOULD" be careful and I feel responsible.
Thank you
Can we use " WERE" instead of "WOULD" in the last dialogue? Because I think speaker "A" is talking about the past. Or in this situation, both of these (would/were) can be used? If would is correct, how come?
Situation is as follows;
A car accident happened and boy and girl friends are talking about it.
A: You really do not have any faith in me, do you, Jerry?
B: Hey, I had enough faith in you to lean my car and let the run into a truck.
A: I can see. I can never be able to convince you.
B: I am always open to truth.
A: Even though, that was not my fault because I did tell I "WOULD" be careful and I feel responsible.
Thank you
Top answer
I can tell you this much with certainty- "Were" cannot be used instead of "would" in the last line. I am absolutely sure of that. However, I don't think I can explain the "why" part clearly.
- I can tell you this much with certainty- "Were" cannot be used instead of "would" in the last line.
- I am absolutely sure of that.
- However, I don't think I can explain the "why" part clearly.
- So, you have to wait for someone else to explain why and how.
- Hope this helps!
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4 Answers
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I can tell you this much with certainty- "Were" cannot be used instead of "would" in the last line. I am absolutely sure of that. However, I don't think I can explain the "why" part clearly. So, you have to wait for someone else to explain why and how. Hope this helps!
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MFarooqI did tell I "WOULD" be carefulPresent point of view: (I'm telling you that) I will be careful.
Past point of view: I [told / did tell] you that I would be careful.
Present POV: (I'm telling you that) I am careful.
Past POV: I told you that I was careful.
"I were" is im
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So, the dialogue could be like that " I did tell you that I was careful"?
And instead of using in the past "were/was" , can we use "would" always? Like, it is used in the dialogue. Thanks
And instead of using in the past "were/was" , can we use "would" always? Like, it is used in the dialogue. Thanks
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MFarooqSo, the dialogue could be like that " I did tell you that I was careful"?Yes, if that's what you mean. "I would be careful" is one thing. It's like a promise was made. "I was careful" is another thing. It's a fact about what happened. Both can go after "I told you". Which one do you mean? Use that one.
MFarooqAnd instead
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