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Norwolf Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Would__subjunctive or emphasize

Hello, dear teachers:

Would you please share your views about this confusing sentence with me?

I'm not surprised that Maxine would draw such a crude, wrongheaded, idiotic conclusion. (taken from COCA)

Here are my ideas:

1?subjunctive: If Maxine drew such a crude, wrongheaded, idiotic conclusion, I would not be surprised.

2?emphasize: I'm not surprised that Maxine would draw such a crude, wrongheaded, idiotic conclusion, which he is habit.

Did I make any mistakes?

Any other meanings?

I’d thank you very much.
  

Top answer

The patterns I'm surprised (that) ... would ... I [can't / don't] believe (that) ...

— CalifJim

  • The patterns I'm surprised (that) ...
  • would ...
  • I [can't / don't] believe (that) ...
  • would ...
  • indicate that the speaker believes the behavior in question is atypical .
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15 Answers
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The patterns

I'm surprised (that) ... would ...
I [can't / don't] believe (that) ... would ...

indicate that the speaker believes the behavior in question is atypical. The speaker is saying that the agent is not likely to be capable of doing such things.
____________________


I'm not surprised (that) ... w
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CalifJimThe patterns

I'm not surprised (that) ... would ...

indicates a belief that the behavior is typical. The speaker believes that the agent is entirely capable of doing such things.

In your example, Maxine came to an unsatisfactory conclusion. The speaker says he's not surprised because that is the sort of thi
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Just a quick correction: Maxine is a woman's name, so it's ..., which is her habit.

Emotion: smile

CJ
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CalifJimJust a quick correction: Maxine is a woman's name, so it's ..., which is her habit.


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Furthermore:

And it is not surprising that somebody should have thought of the mystical chariot of Ezekiel.

Does should indicate a suppositive or hypothetical condition? In other words, subjunction?
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CalifJim
I'm surprised (that) ... would ...

I [can't / don't] believe (that) ... would ...

indicate that the speaker believes the behavior in question is atypical. The speaker is saying that the agent is not likely to be capable of doing such things.

____________________


B
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norwolfFurthermore:

And it is not surprising that somebody should have thought of the mystical chariot of Ezekiel.

Does should indicate a suppositive or hypothetical condition? In other words, subjunction?

this structure is more common in British English.
I think this example will help you understand it:

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coloraday
And it is not surprising that somebody should have thought of the mystical chariot of Ezekiel.


Dear coloraday, nice to meet you and thank you for helping me.

Did you mean this:

1#

And it is not surprising that somebody should have thought of the mystical chariot of E
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Anonymous
coloraday
And it is not surprising that somebody should have thought of the mystical chariot of Ezekiel.


Dear coloraday, nice to meet you and thank you for helping me.

Did you mean this:

1#

And it is not surprising that somebody should have th
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norwolfFurthermore:

And it is not surprising that somebody should have thought of the mystical chariot of Ezekiel.

Does should indicate a suppositive or hypothetical condition? In other words, subjunction?

Hi,

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