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#2 (permalink) Tue Apr 01, 2008 19:25 pm Expression: "The dentist told me that I'll have to..." |
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Hi Tom,
Probably the purist in you wants to say: 'I'd have to ...', which would follow the usual pattern. But by using 'I'll have to ..' the statement becomes more immediate and relates more closely back to what the dentist actually said. Does that help at all?
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#3 (permalink) Tue Apr 01, 2008 19:32 pm Expression: "The dentist told me that I'll have to..." |
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I am grateful, Alan
So am I to understand that past tense+ will is not a grammatical mistake at all? Can I use this form frequently? For example:
| Quote: |
1-She said I'll have to vacate the house.
2-The driver said she will have to wait for a while |
Of course I understand the said work is yet to be done i.e vacate and wait
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#4 (permalink) Thu Apr 03, 2008 20:44 pm Expression: "The dentist told me that I'll have to..." |
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Hello
Anyone there? :shock:
Tom |
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Tom I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 2103
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#5 (permalink) Fri Apr 04, 2008 0:19 am Expression: "The dentist told me that I'll have to..." |
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| Quote: |
1-She said I'll have to vacate the house.
2-The driver said she will have to wait for a while |
Hi Tom
If the action is still in the future, you're likely to hear 'will' rather than 'would'. However, I wouldn't rule out the use of 'would' even if the activity is still in the future.
I can also easily imagine the words will and would being omitted completely:
- She said I have/had to vacate the house. - The driver said she has/had to wait for a while. . _________________ "Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln |
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Yankee I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 16 Apr 2006 Posts: 8316 Location: USA
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