will/would

Forums: English
Email this Topic • Print this Page

In short, the A vs. An debate may simply reflect pronunciation differences between the US and England. Undoubtedly, you will run into strict grammarians who insist that 'an' is more proper (especially in writing), especially amongst people with a penchant for thinking all things old (or British) are more correct. As an American, I can tell you that most people in the US would never use 'an' when speaking and would tell you not to use it in writing either (regardless of whether or not such advice is technically correct).

I wonder why 'would' is used. There is nothing hypothetical, is there? Sorry for asking about 'will' and 'would' again when I've already asked about this pair of words recently. These words confuse me and I feel uneasy if I'm unable to understand why one is used in preference over the other.

Many thanks for your help.

Topic Stats
Top Replies
Link to this Topic

Type: Question • Score: 0 • Views: 514 • Replies: 4

No top replies

@tanguatlay,

"Would" implies the conditional.

(If speaking, then they would.....)

0 Replies

By the way, as an American, i use "an" in speech, and don't recall that it is very common for Americans not to use "an" in speech where it is appropriate. I don't recall seeing people eschewing "an" in written material when the indefinite article comes before a substantive or a modifier which begins with a vowel. I don't know the source of the paragraph you posted, but i suggest to you that the author is wrong.

1 Reply

@Setanta,

Boil an egg. Shoot an elephant. Be nice to one ANother.

Of course thay use "an".

0 Replies

@tanguatlay,

Quote:

As an American, I can tell you that most people in the US would never use 'an' when speaking and would tell you not to use it in writing either (regardless of whether or not such advice is technically correct).

Just as in your other example, Ms Tan, it's possible to use 'will' but this type of situation being talked about does, in the speaker's mind, lean a bit more to the hypothetical side.

The speaker is saying, "in those instances when ..."

Regarding the veracity of the statement, the speaker may be overstating the case, but in fast speech, the 'n' in 'an' is ellided, so we could hear,

D'ya wan a apple?

D'ya have a orange?

0 Replies

will/would

Related Topics

Quick Links

My Account

able2know