Singasong Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
Use of Apostrophe
Oops, I used the "Report" (didn't notice that section was archived). Here I go again now I've found my thinking cap and "Post" box. Question: Don't the contractions: "I'd", "she'd", "he'd", "you'd", etc. mean "I had", "she had", "he had", "you had"? If " 'd" also stood for "would" , which I think is improper English?, how would anyone know the difference? I couldn't find the contractions for "I would", "you would" on the net.
Top answer
Well, I think these things are evolving quite fast. "I'd better" stands for "I had better", but "I'd like" also stands for "I would/should like" . The thing is to use them as you feel, but in a way that can be clearly understood by the one(s) you're talking to.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
0
Well, I think these things are evolving quite fast. "I'd better" stands for "I had better", but "I'd like" also stands for "I would/should like" .
The thing is to use them as you feel, but in a way that can be clearly understood by the one(s) you're talking to.
The thing is to use them as you feel, but in a way that can be clearly understood by the one(s) you're talking to.
00
Hi,
Native speakers will usually have no trouble at all recognizing from the context and tense which word is contracted.
When I arrived at the airport, I found that I'd missed my plane. 'Would' does not make any sense here.
If I were you, I'd marry Tom. 'Had' does not make any sense here.
Best wishes, Cli
Native speakers will usually have no trouble at all recognizing from the context and tense which word is contracted.
When I arrived at the airport, I found that I'd missed my plane. 'Would' does not make any sense here.
If I were you, I'd marry Tom. 'Had' does not make any sense here.
Best wishes, Cli
00
Yes; you could say:
I'd + bare infinitive = I would.
I'd + past participle = I had.
MrP
I'd + bare infinitive = I would.
I'd + past participle = I had.
MrP
00