Tagged Questions
0
votes
2answers
88 views
“I stay in Canada” vs. “I will stay in Canada” [duplicate]
Situation: I am in Canada and will go back to Hong Kong next week. So, I want to tell my friends that "I will stay in Canada until the 6th of March".
Question: I do not know if the word will should ...
1
vote
1answer
95 views
Is “he should be seventeen” correct?
Is the following sentence correct to describe a young man?
He should be seventeen.
My colleague was absolutely sure it was correct. I disagreed, so we had a bit of an argument. I would agree on ...
4
votes
2answers
187 views
could versus be able
Let me start by saying what is written in grammar books on this issue and after that I will put my question. (Take heed that this usage of "could" ONLY refers to the past and ONLY to affirmative ...
0
votes
1answer
84 views
“He was so desperate that he would have given anything” vs. “that he did give anything”
A: I heard he promised to buy her anything she wants.
B: Right. He was so desperate that he would have given anything to win her over.
In sentence B, instead of "would have given," is "did ...
13
votes
2answers
637 views
When did periphrastic tenses stop being tenses?
English sometimes has several different ways of expressing the same thing. For example, it can form a possessive either by using an old case inflection:
The dog’s tail was always wagging.
Or it ...
6
votes
1answer
400 views
Question about the future “tense”
My daughter, who is in the 4th grade, was asked to answer questions about the following sentence:
What time can you meet us at the school on Tuesday?
She was asked questions about the usage of ...
57
votes
10answers
7k views
How many tenses are there in English?
Do we have 16 tenses in English?
With
future
present
past
future in the past
in these forms
simple
continuous
perfect
perfect continuous
Can we manipulate these together to create English ...
2
votes
1answer
664 views
Would certainly have or certainly would have?
I have these confusions sometimes. Firstly, which among the following are grammatically correct to use in sentences-
She would certainly have loved that.
She would have certainly loved ...
1
vote
2answers
424 views
Using 'would' to form reasons
In the following examples:
Why would anyone want to eat something so horrible?
Who would live for forever?
Why would I ever lie to you?
Is 'would' being used to refer to time in future or past Or ...
0
votes
2answers
540 views
“Would” vs “Will”
In the following context is the word 'would' correct at all or do we have to use 'will'?
Some countries grow hashish, and sometimes they would smuggle it to other countries.
Some countries ...
2
votes
1answer
486 views
Reported Speech “Will” vs “Would”
I recently got confused with the following choices while talking to a friend after class:
I sent her an email that I wouldn't come to the class.
I sent her an email that I wouldn't be coming ...
1
vote
3answers
290 views
“One way would be” vs “One way will be”?
What is the difference between "One way would be" and "One way will be"? Can both of them be used for future actions?
0
votes
1answer
2k views
Must had vs must have [closed]
If someone says that they had been to Florida on a recent trip, which one of the following would be a correct respone:
That must had been fun.
That must have been fun.
Or is there a ...
3
votes
1answer
488 views
“I can have had been”
Can you say "I can have had been..." doing something?
Example:
I can have had been reading a book if I could send a letter back in time to tell myself.
So, not could have had been, specifically ...
7
votes
5answers
521 views
What's the tense for repetitive past action?
In English, "would" usually denotes a conditional voice. "If I were sleepy, I would go to bed."
But I've caught myself using it to denote repetitive or habitual past action. "On Thursdays, we would ...
1
vote
3answers
1k views
Must the word after “can” be present tense?
http://www.cs.utexas.edu/users/EWD/transcriptions/EWD04xx/EWD498.html:
We can found no scientific discipline, nor a hearty profession on the
technical mistakes of the Department of Defense and, ...
1
vote
3answers
982 views
How would you use “can” in a future sentence?
If you purchase this then you will be able to do that.
How can I write the above statement using "can"?
2
votes
4answers
873 views
Explain the verb tense in “I wish I never woke up this morning”
This is from a song by Police, Darkness:
"I can dream up schemes when I'm sitting in my seat
I don't see any flaws 'til I get to my feet
I wish I never woke up this morning
Life was easy ...
4
votes
4answers
3k views
“will be able to” vs. “can”
Consider the following:
He will be able to do it.
He can do it.
They mean the same thing, right?
Can "can" replace "will be able to" in any sentence? What is the difference, if anything? ...
3
votes
1answer
2k views
“Changes would not be reflected” vs. “Changes will not be reflected”
Following Martha's advise I am splitting up a question Compound sentences, the punctuation and mooore.
When I describe consequences of some actions one can take, what form of the verb "will" should ...
19
votes
9answers
3k views
“May” & “Might”: What's the right context?
I may not be coming in tomorrow...
I might not be coming in tomorrow...
When could I use "may" & "might"?
