what is the actual meaning of "would" and "could"? (lemmy.ca)

submitted 4 months ago* (last edited 4 months ago) by kionite231@lemmy.ca to c/asklemmy@lemmy.world

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hii,

I am learning English for around 5 years and I still can't comprehend the meaning of "would" and "count" in some context. are they just past form of "will" and "can"?

"would you like coffee" means a person is asking if you liked coffee in past? "I would do it" means I did it in past?

I really don't understand since my language doesn't have anything like those words.

Edit: Thank you for answering my naive question :)

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[-] Susaga@sh.itjust.works 0 points 4 months ago

I disagree. I clearly equated both phrases, and both phrases can either exist in a longer sentence to establish the subject or as a complete phrase with the subject established in a previous sentence.

Examples: "I would have danced" is functionally the same as "I didn't dance." If someone asks you if you danced, you could answer "I would have" or "I didn't" and the same information is brought across.

[-] Evkob@lemmy.ca 2 points 4 months ago

If someone asks you if you danced, you could answer "I would have" or "I didn't" and the same information is brought across

Hard disagree there. "I would have" implies that dancing was something you desired, but circonstances didn't allow for whatever reason. There's an unsaid "but" in there, whereas "I didn't" simply means you were not involved in the dancing.

"I would have" carries a lot more meaning than a simple "I did not".

[-] morphballganon@lemmy.world 2 points 4 months ago

Ok, now I understand what you meant, but I also disagree, like your other replier. "I would have" contains intent, whereas "I didn't" does not.

Imagine if your roommate asks "did you steal my laptop?" Answering "I didn't" answers the question succinctly, and there is no discussion of intent. Answering "I would have" suggests that there is (or was) some intent to steal.

this post was submitted on 16 Jun 2024

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