Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[Marlen]

Dear grammar experts,

What's the difference between:

1. Everyone was speaking of him as if he would be the worst young man in the world.

2. Everyone was speaking of him as if he were the worst young man in the world.

I'd really appreciate your assistance.

Peace,
Marlen

[lotus]

Hi Marlen,

The difference is that the first sentence has conditions (the auxiliary conditional modal "would") and the second doesn't (the verb form "be").

1) Everyone was speaking of him as if he would be the worst young man in the world.
He would be the worst young man in the world if certain conditions or assumptions were met.

2) Everyone was speaking of him as if he were the worst young man in the world.
Everyone thought of him as the worst young man in the world, regardless of what others (outside the circle) might think or what the young man might refute.


--lotus

[lotus]

Hi Marlen,

The implied difference is that the first sentence has conditions (the auxiliary conditional modal "would") and the second doesn't (the verb form "be").

1) Everyone was speaking of him as if he would be the worst young man in the world.
He would be the worst young man in the world if certain conditions or assumptions were met.

2) Everyone was speaking of him as if he were the worst young man in the world.
Everyone thought of him as the worst young man in the world, regardless of what others (outside the circle) might think or what the young man might refute.


--lotus