| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
|
 Posted: Thu Jun 19, 2008 7:56 am Post subject: would have preferred |
 |
|
| Quote: |
| Helen was going to have her first baby soon. One evening it was time to take her to the hospital, so her husband, Sam, helped her get into the car and drove her there. A nurse took Helen to her room and told Sam that he could go home and she would call him when the baby arrived, but Sam said he would rather wait at the hospital. The nurse smiled and said, "There's a waiting room at the end of the hall." Sam was walking anxiously up and down in the corridor at about midnight when the nurse came out of his wife's room and said, with a happy smile, "Which would you have preferred, a boy or a girl?" |
1. In the situation, "Which would you have preferred, a boy or a girl?" is right?
2. What does it mean?
3. How is it different from "Which did you prefer, a boy or a girl?"
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
nicewitch
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 4:07 am Post subject: |
|
|
Hello !
"Which would you have preferred, a boy or a girl?" yes it is right.
It is employed for a possibility that you imagined in the past and that maybe didn't happen. it's sometimes called the imaginary past.
Which did you prefer is a more simple form and doesn't integrate that maybe it didn't happen.
I don't know if I'm clear enough.
_________________
http://chocolate-diet.sylickon.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Chan-Seung Lee
Joined: 03 Dec 2005
Posts: 1032
|
| Posted: Sat Jun 21, 2008 7:53 am Post subject: again |
|
|
What's the different between "Which would you have preferred, a boy or a girl?" and "Which have you preferred, a boy or a girl?"?
Thanks. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
nicewitch
Joined: 11 Jun 2008
Posts: 40
|
| Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2008 4:05 am Post subject: |
|
|
*Well, that has nothing to do.
"Which have you preferred? That means that you have already had it and you can tell your choice.
For instance, you've seen two movies and someone asks you which one you have preferred. Or you've eaten two difference icecreams and someone asks you which one "you have preferred".
Which would you have preferred?<<< Imagine you eated two icecreams and someone asks you "which have you preferred" and you answer: None. Then the person could ask you Which taste would you have preferred?
You see the difference? Would you have is addressed to your imaginary and it does not includes that it has happened but "what would be your choice if you could choose"
I don't know if I'm clear.
Don't hesitate to ask
_________________
http://chocolate-diet.sylickon.com |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Lorikeet
Joined: 08 Oct 2005
Posts: 1877
Location: San Francisco
|
| Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 9:31 am Post subject: Re: again |
|
|
| Chan-Seung Lee wrote: |
What's the different between "Which would you have preferred, a boy or a girl?" and "Which have you preferred, a boy or a girl?"?
Thanks. |
Actually, I'd prefer: Which would you have preferred, a boy or a girl? (After the baby is born) or Which would you prefer, a boy or a girl (Before the baby is born) I don't like "Which have you prefered, a boy or a girl" , but that may be because it's more British. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
