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Sophie
Differences in meaning (oblique moods)
"He felt as if he refused the offer his father would be angry at him" - why we cannot say "as if he had refused... father would have been angry"?
"In the old days it would have been so simple to travel so far" - why we cannot say just "it wasn't so simple"?
"I should have never given him a second chance..." - can we use would instead of should? Why/why not?
Oct 14, 2017 7:33 AM
Answers · 5
1
For the first two you can use your suggestions, but they don't read as eloquently. In spoken English you might say as you suggested, but it written English the original sentences look more elegant and are just better.
Would and should have different meanings so by changing "should" for "would" you change the entire meaning of the sentence. Would expresses a desire or inclination; should means an inevitable or what ought to be done.
October 14, 2017
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Sophie
Language Skills
Chinese (Mandarin), English, Russian
Learning Language
Chinese (Mandarin), English
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