Use of modal verbs in narration
I often come across the following usage of modal verbs in novels: "But Turing would die before completing and publishing his final musings". Why not simple past like "But Turing died before completing and publishing his final musings."? What is the name for this construction?
Edit:
I realized that I have chosen not the right example. A better one is: "Every morning he would make himself a coffee."
verbs modal-verbs
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
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I often come across the following usage of modal verbs in novels: "But Turing would die before completing and publishing his final musings". Why not simple past like "But Turing died before completing and publishing his final musings."? What is the name for this construction?
Edit:
I realized that I have chosen not the right example. A better one is: "Every morning he would make himself a coffee."
verbs modal-verbs
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
New contributor
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
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Using "Turing would die" means that the novel is not at the time where Turing has already died. It is simply describing that Turing will die before completing and publishing his final musings, but in the time of the novel that you are at, he is still alive.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I often read books by Murakami. There it is often used like "He would make a coffee...He would go to...". It somehow replaces the simple past form. This seems odd if it is only a view into the future from a past time.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Sometimes authors or directors will use this as a summary to conclude a scene or chapter. In some cases it could be a cliffhanger.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I don't think its the case, in "Norwegian Wood" Murakami is using this continuously.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Murakami wrote in Japanese. The translator may have used this construction to try to convey what was written in Japanese. But Murakami didn't really make that choice.
– The Photon
2 days ago
|
show 6 more comments
I often come across the following usage of modal verbs in novels: "But Turing would die before completing and publishing his final musings". Why not simple past like "But Turing died before completing and publishing his final musings."? What is the name for this construction?
Edit:
I realized that I have chosen not the right example. A better one is: "Every morning he would make himself a coffee."
verbs modal-verbs
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
New contributor
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
I often come across the following usage of modal verbs in novels: "But Turing would die before completing and publishing his final musings". Why not simple past like "But Turing died before completing and publishing his final musings."? What is the name for this construction?
Edit:
I realized that I have chosen not the right example. A better one is: "Every morning he would make himself a coffee."
verbs modal-verbs
verbs modal-verbs
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
New contributor
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
New contributor
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edited 14 hours ago
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
New contributor
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
asked 2 days ago
pawel_winzig
1014
1014
New contributor
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
New contributor
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
pawel_winzig is a new contributor to this site. Take care in asking for clarification, commenting, and answering.
Check out our Code of Conduct.
Using "Turing would die" means that the novel is not at the time where Turing has already died. It is simply describing that Turing will die before completing and publishing his final musings, but in the time of the novel that you are at, he is still alive.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I often read books by Murakami. There it is often used like "He would make a coffee...He would go to...". It somehow replaces the simple past form. This seems odd if it is only a view into the future from a past time.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Sometimes authors or directors will use this as a summary to conclude a scene or chapter. In some cases it could be a cliffhanger.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I don't think its the case, in "Norwegian Wood" Murakami is using this continuously.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Murakami wrote in Japanese. The translator may have used this construction to try to convey what was written in Japanese. But Murakami didn't really make that choice.
– The Photon
2 days ago
|
show 6 more comments
Using "Turing would die" means that the novel is not at the time where Turing has already died. It is simply describing that Turing will die before completing and publishing his final musings, but in the time of the novel that you are at, he is still alive.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I often read books by Murakami. There it is often used like "He would make a coffee...He would go to...". It somehow replaces the simple past form. This seems odd if it is only a view into the future from a past time.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Sometimes authors or directors will use this as a summary to conclude a scene or chapter. In some cases it could be a cliffhanger.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I don't think its the case, in "Norwegian Wood" Murakami is using this continuously.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Murakami wrote in Japanese. The translator may have used this construction to try to convey what was written in Japanese. But Murakami didn't really make that choice.
– The Photon
2 days ago
Using "Turing would die" means that the novel is not at the time where Turing has already died. It is simply describing that Turing will die before completing and publishing his final musings, but in the time of the novel that you are at, he is still alive.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
Using "Turing would die" means that the novel is not at the time where Turing has already died. It is simply describing that Turing will die before completing and publishing his final musings, but in the time of the novel that you are at, he is still alive.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I often read books by Murakami. There it is often used like "He would make a coffee...He would go to...". It somehow replaces the simple past form. This seems odd if it is only a view into the future from a past time.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I often read books by Murakami. There it is often used like "He would make a coffee...He would go to...". It somehow replaces the simple past form. This seems odd if it is only a view into the future from a past time.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Sometimes authors or directors will use this as a summary to conclude a scene or chapter. In some cases it could be a cliffhanger.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
Sometimes authors or directors will use this as a summary to conclude a scene or chapter. In some cases it could be a cliffhanger.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I don't think its the case, in "Norwegian Wood" Murakami is using this continuously.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I don't think its the case, in "Norwegian Wood" Murakami is using this continuously.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Murakami wrote in Japanese. The translator may have used this construction to try to convey what was written in Japanese. But Murakami didn't really make that choice.
– The Photon
2 days ago
Murakami wrote in Japanese. The translator may have used this construction to try to convey what was written in Japanese. But Murakami didn't really make that choice.
– The Photon
2 days ago
|
show 6 more comments
1 Answer
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/would lists the numerous uses of 'would'. The first one (to refer to future time from the point of view of the past) fits the quotation about Turing. The one listed under 'Frequency' fits the other quotation 'He would make a coffee...'
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
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1 Answer
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https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/would lists the numerous uses of 'would'. The first one (to refer to future time from the point of view of the past) fits the quotation about Turing. The one listed under 'Frequency' fits the other quotation 'He would make a coffee...'
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
add a comment |
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/would lists the numerous uses of 'would'. The first one (to refer to future time from the point of view of the past) fits the quotation about Turing. The one listed under 'Frequency' fits the other quotation 'He would make a coffee...'
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
add a comment |
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/would lists the numerous uses of 'would'. The first one (to refer to future time from the point of view of the past) fits the quotation about Turing. The one listed under 'Frequency' fits the other quotation 'He would make a coffee...'
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/would lists the numerous uses of 'would'. The first one (to refer to future time from the point of view of the past) fits the quotation about Turing. The one listed under 'Frequency' fits the other quotation 'He would make a coffee...'
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
answered yesterday
Kate Bunting
5,76031416
5,76031416
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Using "Turing would die" means that the novel is not at the time where Turing has already died. It is simply describing that Turing will die before completing and publishing his final musings, but in the time of the novel that you are at, he is still alive.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I often read books by Murakami. There it is often used like "He would make a coffee...He would go to...". It somehow replaces the simple past form. This seems odd if it is only a view into the future from a past time.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Sometimes authors or directors will use this as a summary to conclude a scene or chapter. In some cases it could be a cliffhanger.
– Sweet_Cherry
2 days ago
@Sweet_Cherry: I don't think its the case, in "Norwegian Wood" Murakami is using this continuously.
– pawel_winzig
2 days ago
Murakami wrote in Japanese. The translator may have used this construction to try to convey what was written in Japanese. But Murakami didn't really make that choice.
– The Photon
2 days ago