Would/will

English 1b3Why is it that when 'would' is used as the past tense of 'will' it is rarely found in the main clause and instead is usually (always?) found in subordinate clauses (often in indirect speech)?

In the past, you also have the choice of "used to" instead of "would", and "used to" is probably more common. Maybe that's why you haven't seen "would" as muc

CalifJimwould" is the past of "will" in the sense that it is the future of the past, not in the sense that it is a indicator of habit.

Sorry, that's the use of would I'm referring to: the future of the past, and not a past habit.

1) Why is it that it is rarely seen in main clauses?

CalifJim
Jake was evil. He would kill

English 1b31) Why is it that it is rarely seen in main clauses?

Because it's rare that the situation arises in which we want to tell a story that contains this time relationship (or that we want to express it that way).

English 1b3In the time of reading, it is in the past (Jake was evil) and he in the future of the past will kill--it's

CalifJim
Jake killed three men. And he would kill again. [This tells the story as if we were located at a time after the first three killings, but before any further killings. Our attention is focused on this in-between period. So, without moving our attention to the next period of time, the speaker tells us that Jake killed again, or more exactly, that he

English 1b3'would become' is used here for the same reason, correct? It is an alternative to below which takes the reader from one event in the past to the next. ...
In the early 1900's Einstein was beginning to develop his theory of relativity. Later, he became famous for it.Yes.

English 1b3When would

Thanks.

Can you express an in-between period with 'will'?

English 1b3Can you express an in-between period with 'will'?

How do you mean? Do you have an example?

(In the examples we've already discussed above, you can't subsitute will for would, if that's what you're asking.)

CJ

In the examples we have discussed so far, 'would' (used as the future of the past) is being used to express that something is going to happen--something the author already knows:

Jake killed three men. And he would kill again.

Can 'will' be used to focus the reader on this in-between period, or is 'will' not really used in the same way?

Jake kills thre

English 1b3Can 'will' be used to focus the reader on this in-between period, or is 'will' not really used in the same way?

Jake kills three men. And he will kill again.

Yes, you can make the present the "in-between period", but not as you've done. All you need to do is change the fir

CalifJimJake has killed three men. And he will kill again

Why is is structured like that?

With the past tense, the first clause was unchanged, but the second added 'would.'

Why is the corresponding word 'will' not used to show this effect?

Thanks