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 #2 (permalink) Wed Aug 20, 2008 21:28 pm Used To/Would |
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Hi Volcano,
'Would' in place of 'used to' is very much a narrative construction and is often used with some kind of frequency adverb or adverb phrase as in: When we were children we would go every Sunday to visit our grandmother.
In your sentence: I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn't love much more., there is a bit of uncertainty as to the meaning of 'would'. Is it a conditional or what? Clearly it isn't a conditional and so to make it clear that this is a use of 'would' meaning 'used to' you need to introduce some time adverb as: I would sometimes think ... I would often think ...
Alan
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| #3 (permalink) Thu Aug 21, 2008 8:14 am Used To/Would ("I used to think" vs "I would think") |
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M Lewis, of The English Verb, says that "would", when used for past reference, is often connected with nostalgia more that "used to" is. Don't know if that true though. What do you think, Alan?
| Quote: |
| In your sentence: I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn't love much more., there is a bit of uncertainty as to the meaning of 'would'. Is it a conditional or what? Clearly it isn't a conditional and so to make it clear that this is a use of 'would' meaning 'used to' you need to introduce some time adverb as: I would sometimes think ... I would often think ... |
I think it's the same use as "he would bite his nails" or "he would slurp his soup so" or "he would always bring flowers".
| Quote: |
| Clearly it isn't a conditional and so to make it clear that this is a use of 'would' meaning 'used to' you need to introduce some time adverb |
But the "time" expression could also be placed elsewhere, couldn't it?
Back in those days, I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn't love much more.
I guess I was a fool, a child back then. I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn't love much more. |
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Molly
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| #4 (permalink) Thu Aug 21, 2008 12:19 pm Used To/Would ("I used to think" vs "I would think") |
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| Molly wrote: |
M Lewis, of The English Verb, says that "would", when used for past reference, is often connected with nostalgia more that "used to" is. Don't know if that true though. What do you think, Alan?
In your sentence: I would think that I loved you much and always say that I couldn't love much more., there is a bit of uncertainty as to the meaning of 'would'. Is it a conditional or what? Clearly it isn't a conditional and so to make it clear that this is a use of 'would' meaning 'used to' you need to introduce some time adverb as: I would sometimes think ... I would often think ...
I think it's the same use as "he would bite his nails" or "he would slurp his soup so" or "he would always bring flowers".
Clearly it isn't a conditional and so to make it clear that this is a use of 'would' meaning 'used to' you need to introduce some time adverb
But the "time" expression could also be placed elsewhere, couldn't it? |
Just love the way you quote, M.
.
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| #5 (permalink) Thu Aug 21, 2008 15:01 pm Used To/Would ("I used to think" vs "I would think") |
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[quote="Yankee"]
| Molly wrote: |
Just love the way you quote, M.
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If poor-quoting were a habit of mine, I could understand your comment. |
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Molly
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Aug 22, 2008 1:49 am Used To/Would ("I used to think" vs "I would think") |
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"I loved you much" sounds a little odd to me. I would amend it to e.g.
1. I used to think that I loved you very much and would always say that I couldn't love you much more.
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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