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wouldn't haev

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New2grammar  #428254  Sun, 07 Oct 07 05:50 PM

I sat her down on a window ledge that looked reasonably like it wouldn't have an alarm

I don't quite understand what it means by "it wouldn't have an alarm". Literally, I interpret it as "it (the window ledge) will not set off alarm" but this interpretation doesn't make sense to me.

Please help. Thanks in advance.
  
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nona the brit  #428259  Sun, 07 Oct 07 06:10 PM
Some windows are connected to a burglar alarm system.
  
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New2grammar  #428273  Sun, 07 Oct 07 07:00 PM

Shouldn't it be worded as "didn't have an alarm (system)" rather than "wouldn't" as "wouldn't" indicates future?
  
nona the brit  #428505  Mon, 08 Oct 07 11:59 AM
It's ok in this context as he is not sure if it has an alarm system or not.
  
Marius Hancu  #428533  Mon, 08 Oct 07 01:54 PM
 Nona The Brit wrote:
It's ok in this context as he is not sure if it has an alarm system or not.
Indeed:
looked reasonably like
  
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Neeraj Jain  #428542  Mon, 08 Oct 07 02:31 PM
"would" is used to indicate possiblity.
  
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