Question

Updated on 15 Jul 2020

11 Jul 2020

Japanese

English (US)

Question about English (US)

In the movie named "the great wall" I saw the below phrase.

"Amigo, only you would carry a stupid magnet through the desert."

Is this gramatically correct?
is
Only you will carry　correct?

Answers

Allison_Davis

11 Jul 2020

English (US)

“Would” is correct. It is a hypothetical sentence.

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15836dtuz

11 Jul 2020

Japanese

@Allison_Davis
I see. but in the movie, He(who was told) actually has the magnet.
However the location is a middle of the desert.

The speaker uses "would" because they are still in the desert.?

Allison_Davis

11 Jul 2020

English (US)

The speaker means “in this situation, no one else would carry a magnet through the desert.”
Hypothetically, if someone else was in this situation, they would not carry the magnet. Only he would do it.

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15836dtuz

11 Jul 2020

Japanese

@Allison_Davis I mean

The speaker knows that the man(who is told) will carry the magnet at that moment.
In spite of that, why does he use "would"?

Allison_Davis

11 Jul 2020

English (US)

We use this phrase (“only you would...”) to say that no one else would do it.

“Only you would wake up this early.”
“Only you would do something so crazy.”
“Only you would like such an ugly dog.”

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15836dtuz

11 Jul 2020

Japanese

@Allison_Davis Thank you. Your explanation is very convincing.

I have one more question to ask you.

A: I'm lookin for a job.
B: Any idea where you would start?

Is this usage of "would" correct?
A is looking for a job. so should B ask like "Any idea where you will start?" ?

Allison_Davis

11 Jul 2020

English (US)

I think in this situation “will” is better.
“Any idea where you will start?” means that he is looking for a job now.
“Any idea where you would start?” means maybe he will look for a job in the future

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In the movie named "the great wall" I saw the below phrase.

"Amigo, only you would carry a stupid magnet through the desert."

Is this gramatically correct?
is
Only you will carry　correct?

In the movie named "the great wall" I saw the below phrase."Amigo, only you would carry a stupid magnet through the desert."Is this gramatically correct?isOnly you will carry correct? See a translation

“Would” is correct. It is a hypothetical sentence.

The speaker means “in this situation, no one else would carry a magnet through the desert.”Hypothetically, if someone else was in this situation, they would not carry the magnet. Only he would do it.

We use this phrase (“only you would...”) to say that no one else would do it.“Only you would wake up this early.”“Only you would do something so crazy.”“Only you would like such an ugly dog.”

I think in this situation “will” is better.“Any idea where you will start?” means that he is looking for a job now.“Any idea where you would start?” means maybe he will look for a job in the future

Ask native speakers questions for free

In the movie named "the great wall" I saw the below phrase.

"Amigo, only you would carry a stupid magnet through the desert."

Is this gramatically correct?
is
Only you will carry　correct?

The speaker means “in this situation, no one else would carry a magnet through the desert.”
Hypothetically, if someone else was in this situation, they would not carry the magnet. Only he would do it.

We use this phrase (“only you would...”) to say that no one else would do it.

“Only you would wake up this early.”
“Only you would do something so crazy.”
“Only you would like such an ugly dog.”

I think in this situation “will” is better.
“Any idea where you will start?” means that he is looking for a job now.
“Any idea where you would start?” means maybe he will look for a job in the future