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English 1b3 Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Would/Did

Difference in meaning between these two?

  • He wanted a divorce but his wife would not agree.


    • He wanted a divorce but his wife did not agree.

    And these two?

  • Yesterday morning, the car wouldn't start.

  • Yesterday morning, the car didn't start.
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    Top answer

    1. He wanted a divorce, but his wife didn't [want one]. But she may have granted it.

    — Philip

    • 1.
    • He wanted a divorce, but his wife didn't [want one].
    • But she may have granted it.
    • He wanted a divorce, but his wife didn't agree to one.
    • [wouldn't let it happen] 2.
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    2 Answers
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    1. He wanted a divorce, but his wife didn't [want one]. But she may have granted it.

    He wanted a divorce, but his wife didn't agree to one. [wouldn't let it happen]

    2. Not much difference. [wouldn't might imply several attempts?]
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    How is would used in these sentenes above?

    "Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past"

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