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 :)
Will do: it is certain he do it in future.
Would do: it is certain he decide to do now or in future it if he has ability to do and/or knows about it and/or nothing else stop him.
Would have done: it is certain he decide to do in past if he had ability to do and/or knew about it and/or nothing else stop him.
Can do: he have ability to do now or in future.
Could do: he have ability to do now or in future if he decide to do and/or no external condition that stops it being done.
Could have done: he had the ability, he didn’t do in past (maybe there are reasons).
would = intent to do if there is ability.
could = ability to do if there is intent.
- intent: the desire to do and/or the knowledge that it needs to be done and/or no external condition that stops it being done.
“would you like coffee” = If I give to you ability to drink coffee right now, what is your answer, Yes or No?
“I would do it” = If nothing stops me and I have the ability to do, then I do it. This is said with knowledge that some condition must be met before you can do it:
“I would drink that coffee if you give it to me.”
It is letting the listener know that you intend to do action, but it first requires some other thing to happen which gives you ability.
The more I thought about what I was trying to say the less it made sense so I intended to delete it but I guess I submitted the unfinished post instead
This is a great write up BUT there are other mistakes you should fix since you’re helping someone learn. “He have” instead of “he has,” etc.
WTF NO! You suggested that bullshit? I wondered why everything was so goddamn clunky.
“HE HAS”, NOT “HE HAVE”. And should be the ability.
The way it’s written now sounds EXACTLY like someone who’s first language ISNT English trying to teach someone else English. It’s butchered terribly.
I’m getting quite the laugh at someone getting this angry over their own lack of reading comprehension.
I originally parsed their comment the same way you did, but I would have either asked for clarification or politely corrected them. Please be more respectful of others, there’s really no need to be so agressive.
No, they wrote “have” which I am saying is one of the issues with their comment
