Timeline for Hypothetical uses of "would", "would have" and "would like"
Current License: CC BY-SA 3.0
5 events
| when toggle format | what | by | license | comment | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 22, 2015 at 19:12 | comment | added | Mark Hubbard | For emphasis, you can use a modifier or change the verb. For instance, "I really wish I were lying on the beach right now." Another alternative, very close to your example is, "I wish I would have lain on the beach yesterday while I was there." Can you hear the difference? The addition of "wish" (as a verb) causes the whole sentence to make more sense. Many native English speakers wouldn't use that second sentence, saying instead, "I wish I laid on the beach yesterday," which is incorrect but common. "I wish I lay on the beach yesterday" is correct, but many will think it sounds odd. | |
| Dec 22, 2015 at 19:11 | comment | added | stangdon | @AzaharAli, Mark Hubbard makes some really good points. And yes, your diligence is noteworthy! If it makes you feel better, most Americans have immense trouble with lie/lay/laid/lain, so they probably won't even know if you get it wrong. And if you really understand it, you will be doing much better than most Americans! | |
| Dec 22, 2015 at 17:49 | comment | added | Mark Hubbard | Your second example in your comment is excellent and correct: "I would like to be lying on the beach right now." Your first example, "I would have lain on the beach yesterday while I was there" is grammatically correct, but it doesn't make much sense to me, because you were there. In other words, "If you were there, you would have lain on the beach." You wouldn't believe how many Americans say, "I would have laid on the beach," which is incorrect. I would ask them, "What did you lay on the beach?" but most would not understand my question. You are very diligent; I respect that. | |
| Dec 22, 2015 at 16:40 | comment | added | Azahar Ali | You have written-"I would have lain on the beach yesterday if I had the opportunity". Will it be wrong if I write:"I would have lain on the beach yesterday while I was there"? Are there other alternatives to rewrite the first sentence, i.e "I would like to be lying on the beach right now"? I think there may have other alternatives to rewrite it, but they will show different degree of emhasise. Please say what you think. I think I'm going learn something clearly from you. | |
| Dec 22, 2015 at 16:29 | history | answered | Mark Hubbard | CC BY-SA 3.0 |