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Reegis Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
You could say it in a few words and the impact of the speech would be greater.
Hello.
Might the sentence below pertain to either the past or the future?
1) You could say it in a few words and the impact of the speech would be greater.
For example, let's imagine two situations:
a) Someone has just delivered his speech. I approach him and say this sentence. Is it correct or it would be better to say:
2) You could have said it in a few words and the impact of the speech would (or 'would have been' for the past) be greater.
b) I hear someone rehearsing his speech and say this sentence as advice for his future speech (something that he might change and his performance will be better). Is it correct?
Might the sentence below pertain to either the past or the future?
1) You could say it in a few words and the impact of the speech would be greater.
For example, let's imagine two situations:
a) Someone has just delivered his speech. I approach him and say this sentence. Is it correct or it would be better to say:
2) You could have said it in a few words and the impact of the speech would (or 'would have been' for the past) be greater.
b) I hear someone rehearsing his speech and say this sentence as advice for his future speech (something that he might change and his performance will be better). Is it correct?
Top answer
1) You could say it in a few words and the impact of the speech would be greater. No, I think the past would have to be Conditional III, as you have done in your #2. Of course, you could use your #1 in that situation if he was just practicing his speech and would be giving it again—but then it would still refer to the future!
- 1) You could say it in a few words and the impact of the speech would be greater.
- No, I think the past would have to be Conditional III, as you have done in your #2.
- Of course, you could use your #1 in that situation if he was just practicing his speech and would be giving it again—but then it would still refer to the future!
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2 Answers
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ReegisMight the sentence below pertain to either the past or the future?1) You could say it in a few words and the impact of the speech would be greater.No, I think the past would have to be Conditional III, as you have done in your #2. Of course, you could use your #1 in that situation if he was just practicing his speech and would be giving it again—but th
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This is what I would say if I heard a practice speech, and the speaker can change it before the actual event.
If you used fewer words, your speech would have a greater impact.
This is what I would say if I heard the final speech (and it won't be given again)
If you had used fewer words, your speech would have had a greater impact.
If you used fewer words, your speech would have a greater impact.
This is what I would say if I heard the final speech (and it won't be given again)
If you had used fewer words, your speech would have had a greater impact.
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