Why would I have

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jack112

#130196 Wed, 24 Aug 05 08:32 AM

How do I use these two?

1. Why would I have used it?

2. Why would I use it?

Thanks.

jack112

Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004

Regular Member (715)

davkett

#130280 Wed, 24 Aug 05 01:59 PM

Example:

Jill: I bought a battery-operated drill for you, Jack, but it was stolen last night from my apartment.

Jack: Don't worry about it Jill. I'm not really much of a handyman, anyway. Why would I have used it?

Next day--

Jill: The police recovered the stolen drill this morning, Jack. Don't you want it?

Jack: I don't know . What's the point? Why would I use it?

davkett

Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005

Pennsylvania, USA

Senior Member (2,788)

"The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay

jack112

#133098 Fri, 02 Sep 05 07:43 AM

1. Why would he have burnt your restaurant? (Is this a conditional or referring to the past? I think it is a conditional. Like this: 'Why would he have burnt your restaurant if ....")

2. Why would he burn your restaurant? (Let's say somebody burned his resturant and now someone is asking why. Is this the one to use or #1?)

Thank

jack112

Conditionals

MrPedantic

#133478 Sat, 03 Sep 05 02:58 PM

Hello Jack

1. Why would Fred have blown up Jack's restaurant?

Jack's restaurant has been blown up. You can think of no reason for Fred to blow up Jack's restaurant. So you use 'would have', to show that you think that this particular scenario is an imaginary past.

2. Why would Fred blow up your restaurant?

This has two possible contexts.

If the restaurant has been blown up, you can think of no reason for Fred to be the culprit. So you use 'would', to show that you think that the scenario in general is imaginary.

If the restaurant hasn't been blown up, you can think of no reason for Fred to try to blow up the restaurant. Again, you use 'would' to show that the the scenario in general is imaginary.

MrP

MrPedantic

Joined on Tue, Oct 12 2004

Veteran Member (12,144)

...opella forensis / adducit febris...