What does use of “would” in the following sentence mean exactly?
I would study X and Y, possibly thorough the help of Z.
Say, this is being written for a statement or application contingent on approval by a committee.
Is "would" a modal verb or subjunctive here? (Note that there is no 'if' clause in the sentence, and a 'if' sentence of this type may be clearly subjunctive "If granted approval/admission, I would study X and Y...", but the question is not about that).
How does it differ from saying "I hope to study..."?
(It may not be correct to use "will" because that may be too arrogant or assuming that one will get the approval or admission that is sought by the statement. )
grammar tenses subjunctive-mood would
add a comment |
I would study X and Y, possibly thorough the help of Z.
Say, this is being written for a statement or application contingent on approval by a committee.
Is "would" a modal verb or subjunctive here? (Note that there is no 'if' clause in the sentence, and a 'if' sentence of this type may be clearly subjunctive "If granted approval/admission, I would study X and Y...", but the question is not about that).
How does it differ from saying "I hope to study..."?
(It may not be correct to use "will" because that may be too arrogant or assuming that one will get the approval or admission that is sought by the statement. )
grammar tenses subjunctive-mood would
There is no broader context for this, but I'd assume it fits in with something like If I were you, I would . . . or If I could, I would . . . Saying just that sentence, without anything prior happening to prompt it, would be quite strange.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
@JasonBassford It's not about a contrafactuality or conditionality.
– Kris
2 days ago
See the definition and usage of would -- Good Luck.
– Kris
2 days ago
add a comment |
I would study X and Y, possibly thorough the help of Z.
Say, this is being written for a statement or application contingent on approval by a committee.
Is "would" a modal verb or subjunctive here? (Note that there is no 'if' clause in the sentence, and a 'if' sentence of this type may be clearly subjunctive "If granted approval/admission, I would study X and Y...", but the question is not about that).
How does it differ from saying "I hope to study..."?
(It may not be correct to use "will" because that may be too arrogant or assuming that one will get the approval or admission that is sought by the statement. )
grammar tenses subjunctive-mood would
I would study X and Y, possibly thorough the help of Z.
Say, this is being written for a statement or application contingent on approval by a committee.
Is "would" a modal verb or subjunctive here? (Note that there is no 'if' clause in the sentence, and a 'if' sentence of this type may be clearly subjunctive "If granted approval/admission, I would study X and Y...", but the question is not about that).
How does it differ from saying "I hope to study..."?
(It may not be correct to use "will" because that may be too arrogant or assuming that one will get the approval or admission that is sought by the statement. )
grammar tenses subjunctive-mood would
grammar tenses subjunctive-mood would
asked 2 days ago
Joe Black
4641618
4641618
There is no broader context for this, but I'd assume it fits in with something like If I were you, I would . . . or If I could, I would . . . Saying just that sentence, without anything prior happening to prompt it, would be quite strange.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
@JasonBassford It's not about a contrafactuality or conditionality.
– Kris
2 days ago
See the definition and usage of would -- Good Luck.
– Kris
2 days ago
add a comment |
There is no broader context for this, but I'd assume it fits in with something like If I were you, I would . . . or If I could, I would . . . Saying just that sentence, without anything prior happening to prompt it, would be quite strange.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
@JasonBassford It's not about a contrafactuality or conditionality.
– Kris
2 days ago
See the definition and usage of would -- Good Luck.
– Kris
2 days ago
There is no broader context for this, but I'd assume it fits in with something like If I were you, I would . . . or If I could, I would . . . Saying just that sentence, without anything prior happening to prompt it, would be quite strange.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
There is no broader context for this, but I'd assume it fits in with something like If I were you, I would . . . or If I could, I would . . . Saying just that sentence, without anything prior happening to prompt it, would be quite strange.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
@JasonBassford It's not about a contrafactuality or conditionality.
– Kris
2 days ago
@JasonBassford It's not about a contrafactuality or conditionality.
– Kris
2 days ago
See the definition and usage of would -- Good Luck.
– Kris
2 days ago
See the definition and usage of would -- Good Luck.
– Kris
2 days ago
add a comment |
active
oldest
votes
Your Answer
StackExchange.ready(function() {
var channelOptions = {
tags: "".split(" "),
id: "97"
};
initTagRenderer("".split(" "), "".split(" "), channelOptions);
StackExchange.using("externalEditor", function() {
// Have to fire editor after snippets, if snippets enabled
if (StackExchange.settings.snippets.snippetsEnabled) {
StackExchange.using("snippets", function() {
createEditor();
});
}
else {
createEditor();
}
});
function createEditor() {
StackExchange.prepareEditor({
heartbeatType: 'answer',
autoActivateHeartbeat: false,
convertImagesToLinks: false,
noModals: true,
showLowRepImageUploadWarning: true,
reputationToPostImages: null,
bindNavPrevention: true,
postfix: "",
imageUploader: {
brandingHtml: "Powered by u003ca class="icon-imgur-white" href="https://imgur.com/"u003eu003c/au003e",
contentPolicyHtml: "User contributions licensed under u003ca href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/"u003ecc by-sa 3.0 with attribution requiredu003c/au003e u003ca href="https://stackoverflow.com/legal/content-policy"u003e(content policy)u003c/au003e",
allowUrls: true
},
noCode: true, onDemand: true,
discardSelector: ".discard-answer"
,immediatelyShowMarkdownHelp:true
});
}
});
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f478649%2fwhat-does-use-of-would-in-the-following-sentence-mean-exactly%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
Thanks for contributing an answer to English Language & Usage Stack Exchange!
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Some of your past answers have not been well-received, and you're in danger of being blocked from answering.
Please pay close attention to the following guidance:
- Please be sure to answer the question. Provide details and share your research!
But avoid …
- Asking for help, clarification, or responding to other answers.
- Making statements based on opinion; back them up with references or personal experience.
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers.
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
StackExchange.ready(
function () {
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2fenglish.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f478649%2fwhat-does-use-of-would-in-the-following-sentence-mean-exactly%23new-answer', 'question_page');
}
);
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function () {
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
});
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
Required, but never shown
There is no broader context for this, but I'd assume it fits in with something like If I were you, I would . . . or If I could, I would . . . Saying just that sentence, without anything prior happening to prompt it, would be quite strange.
– Jason Bassford
2 days ago
@JasonBassford It's not about a contrafactuality or conditionality.
– Kris
2 days ago
See the definition and usage of would -- Good Luck.
– Kris
2 days ago