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That's interesting. Why do you think you would find these odd?revel wrote:Good morning.
In both cases, the statements are reflecting something that the speaker holds to be inalienable truths. Unless Congress acts up, the date that marks the 50th anniversary is fixed and will always be such-and-such a date. Unless there is an act of god, we have to clean the house, look for a birthday present for Kris, buy vegetables and cat food tomorrow, since the day after we are going to be out of town all day and the day after the day after tomorrow we both have to work. I would find the use of any other verb-construct odd in both cases.
peace,
revel.
Are those choices based on something? I mean, linguistically speaking. Can they be analysed and discussed?lolwhites wrote:The difference is emphasis, not meaning, and is the same as the examples on your other thread. It comes down to speaker choice.
<lolwhites wrote:They're based on what the speaker wishes to emphasise, and how he or she wishes to present the information.
So, in the examples you've given, it's based on whether he or she wishes to present the info as simple facts or predictions. There are, of course, plently of other possibilities.
The question I ask myself, Metal, is where are you going with this? I'd have thought this was pretty elementary stuff for you. What theory are you testing?
Just bear with me a while.So, in the examples you've given, it's based on whether he or she wishes to present the info as simple facts or predictions.
Like I keep saying, it's about the "spin" the speaker chooses to put on the utterance. As to why he or she would want to do that, don't ask me. My mind-reading abilities don't extend far enough to include hypothetical speakers quoted on discussion forums! All I've ever said is that he or she has the option.Why would the second sentence be seen as a prediction if, at the time of speaking, the speaker knows for a fact that he has a heavy day confronting him?
Fine, thanks for the time.lolwhites wrote:Like I keep saying, it's about the "spin" the speaker chooses to put on the utterance. As to why he or she would want to do that, don't ask me. My mind-reading abilities don't extend far enough to include hypothetical speakers quoted on discussion forums! All I've ever said is that he or she has the option.Why would the second sentence be seen as a prediction if, at the time of speaking, the speaker knows for a fact that he has a heavy day confronting him?