ESL General English Grammar Questions

Re: would have sworn

Marius Hancu — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 11:15:00 GMT

it ALSO means "to use profane oaths; curse".

Re: would have sworn

pructus — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 08:36:39 GMT

I understand what you mean.....

I see...

I assumed that the word "swear" meant "to make a solemn promise", but now I see it means "to use profane oaths; curse".

Thanks, Tanit !!

Re: would have sworn

Tanit — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 07:06:37 GMT

Hi,

My understanding: if Blinker had been a man of less culture and poise and wealth, he would have sworn. However, since he was a gentleman, he didn't swear although he was displeased. Instead, he just looked bored and sardonic ...

would have sworn

pructus — Sat, 05 Jul 2008 04:50:43 GMT

Blinker was displeased. A man of less culture and poise and wealth would have sworn. But Blinker always remembered that he was a gentleman—a thing that no gentleman should do. So he merely looked bored and sardonic while he rode in a hansom to the center of disturbance, which was the Broadway office of Lawyer Oldport, who was agent for the Blinker estate.

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Brickdust_Row

**

From Brickdust Row by O. Henry.

The underlined part, does it mean that "A man of less culture and poise and wealth would have sworn that Blinker was displeased."?