Questions
Hi everybody, I've got a doubt about the use of tenses with modal verbs governed by a past tense. Should the modal verb be present or past in a sentence like the following, with the verb "think" in the past? Here are two possible solutions. 1. He wasn't sure, but thought the new plan against unemployment could work. 2. He wasn't sure, but thought the new plan against unemployment could have worked. Possible explanation 1. If it is possible to accept both, is it correct to say that the meaning of the first sentence refers to the future and that of the second remains anchored in the past? Possible explanation 2. If, instead, the second sentence is not acceptable, what grammatical principle is implied? (A principle analogous to that of the future in the past which requires the use of a present conditional for actions that occur in the future compared to the past? Or is an agreement similar to that necessary with reporting verbs in the past simple that require the simple conditional after them? In addition to 'would', can we reason by analogy with all other modal verbs and follow this general rule? ) I hope my question is clear enough. Thank you.
Apr 27, 2024 2:24 PM
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I read that, in the Japanese language, subjects are often obmitted in sentences EG it says in my Japanese dictionary that "京都に行きます" (Kyōto ni ikimasu) can mean "I/you/he/she/they (will) go to Kyoto" and that you should be able to tell which subject people mean depending on the context. But, if I WERE to keep the subject in the sentence, would they be: "I (will) go to Kyoto" - "私は京都に行きます" (Watashi wa Kyōto ni ikimasu) "He (will) go to Kyoto" - "彼は京都にいきます" (Kare wa Kyōto ni ikimasu) "She (will) go to Kyoto" - "彼女は京都にいきます" (Kanojo wa Kyōto ni ikimasu) "We (will) go to Kyoto" - "私達は京都いきます" (Watashi-tachi wa Kyōto ni ikimasu) "They (will) go to Kyoto" - "彼等は京都に行きます" (Karera wa Kyōto ni ikimasu) So, basically, my question is, are these right? And if they are, I have another question - would these ever be used in real life or would people instead just say "京都に行きます" for all of these instead - or would people only use the subjects in formal situations? Thanks so much if you took the time to read this and to anyone who answers!!
Apr 27, 2024 12:15 PM
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