0

An answerer gives an example

If I won a million dollars I could buy a Ferrari.

and explains

"would" and "could" can't be interchanged. That doesn't mean I necessarily am going to buy a Ferrari, it's just an option. If I said "If I won a million dollars I would buy a Ferrari", I mean that I necessarily am going to buy a Ferrari. I will buy a Ferrari.

I could have said

If "would" and "could" are interchanged, the meaning changes ...

or

If "would" and "could" are interchanged with each other, the meaning changes ...

The last 2 sentences are my own version. I am concerned with whether the first is grammatical. If it is, is the second a bit wordy?

In other words, is "with each other" required, optional or unnecessary in this context?

Not important but necessary:

I've looked that up on Cambridge Dictionary and Collins and didn't got an answer.

Improve this question
3
  • Questions about answers... In the subjunctive, when you say "If ... I could buy X" it means "able to buy": can...could. When you say "If ... I would buy X" it means "intend to buy": will...would. The words could and would are both OK but they mean different things because they come from different verbs.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Mar 23, 2020 at 13:15
  • @WeatherVane Are you asking some questions to me or just make some supplement to my OP?
    – WXJ96163
    Commented Mar 23, 2020 at 13:19
  • I misunderstood the complicated question. The phrase "with each other" is unnecessary, because that is what "interchanged" means.
    – Weather Vane
    Commented Mar 23, 2020 at 13:31

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
1

It is correct (it's just passive voice). The sentence:

"If "would" and "could" are interchanged, the meaning changes."

is just the passive voice equivalent of:

"If I interchange "would" and "could", the meaning changes."

where most generic personal pronouns could be used depending on context.

EDIT1:

"interchanged"

and

"interchanged with each other"

both yield grammatically correct sentences. Furthermore you can safely drop the extra verbiage without losing information or confusing the reader.

Improve this answer
2
  • Thanks for your answer. Did you noticed the question "In other words, is "with each other" required, optional or unnecessary in this context" in my OP?
    – WXJ96163
    Commented Mar 23, 2020 at 13:33
  • @WXJ96163 See my EDIT1
    – Gary's Student
    Commented Mar 23, 2020 at 13:42

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .