order of tenses

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sharad

#122615 Sat, 30 Jul 05 12:10 PM

Hi All,

1> What are the rules for order of tenses ?? It would be really nice to know the order in which tenses can be used..

2> Since I am a realist, I did not take his words. ( Correct ??)

3> Also, wanted to know the usage of "would"..

I would do that ..( is this equivalent to "i will do that in that future" ??)..Also, when you use indirect speech, will is converted to would.. Ex: He said that he woud finace the car. == > he said "i will finance the car".. Here would is used in different meaning, correct ?

What does "he could do that" means ? Does it mean "he can do that" or "he can do that, but chances of he doing that are less" ??.. People use would and could interchangebly with will and can. Correct? I see that people in my office always say "i would" most of the times when i think they should be saying "I will"..

"i would have done that" what does this mean ?? Does this mean - "I had chance to do something .. I did not do that.. which i could have done that.. " .. OR does this mean "i will have that done in future" ??

It becomes more complicated in this example. He said "I will have done that".. This is means "he will have it done sometime in future".. But when this is converted to indirect speech, it becomes "he said that he would have done that".. Here it means "he could have done that (at some point in past).. But he did not do it..".. Correct ??

4> Can any one tell me what this sentence means ? ?

To be sure, there would be scarcely no time left over for other things if school children were expected to consider all sides of every matter on which they hold opinions.

Also, which is correct - are expected or were expected ??

Why in the hell, these tenses are so confusing.. Please bear with my frustration here..

thanks,

Sharad.

sharad

Joined on Thu, Sep 23 2004

Junior Member (94)

Direct speech, Indirect speech, Tenses

Eimai_Anglos

#122750 Sun, 31 Jul 05 01:27 AM

I would do that ..( is this equivalent to "I will do that in that future" ??)

No, "would" is conditional and implies "if".

If it were my choice, I would do that.
If it were possible, I would do that.
If I were you, I would do this.

there would be scarcely no time left over for other things if school children were expected to consider all sides of every matter on which they hold opinions.

There would be hardly any time remaining (to do other things) if school children had to think about everything which concerned them.

What does "he could do that" mean

He might be able to do that if...
He used to be able to do that (but he isn't able to now).
(Depends on the context).

I would have done that

If I had been able to, I would have done that. (past conditional)
If I had known about it, I would have done that.
If you had allowed me to, I would have done that.

It becomes more complicated in this example. He said "I will have done that".. This means "he will have it done sometime in the future"..

Yes.

But when this is converted to indirect speech, it becomes "he said that he would have done that".. Here it means "he could have done that (at some point in past).. But he did not do it..".. Correct ??

Possibly, but I think that it needs more explanation to make the timeframe clear.

Also, which is correct - are expected or were expected ?

Need the context.

Eimai_Anglos

Joined on Thu, Jun 23 2005

Cheshire, England

Full Member (454)

Martin - native English speaker and technical author.

Conditionals, Direct speech, Indirect speech

sharad

#122798 Sun, 31 Jul 05 08:26 AM

Hi Eimai_Anglos,

Thanks a lot for taking time to address my doubts.. However, I need some more clarifications.

To be sure, there would be scarcely no time left over for other things if school children were expected to consider all sides of every matter on which they hold opinions.

In above example, which is correct - are expected or were expected ??

sharad