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Thread: was vs would be

  1. 02-Sep-2011, 07:24 #1
    ostap77
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    Default was vs would be

    "A police man walked up to the front door and knocked on it. A gray-haired man opened the door. The police officer asked if he would be the doctor."

    Is the last sentence grammatically correct? Is it OK with ".....if he would be the doctor."? Or it must be "....if he was the doctor."?
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  2. 02-Sep-2011, 07:34 #2
    Rover_KE
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    Default Re: was vs would be

    In direct speech the police officer probably asked 'Would you be the doctor?' meaning 'Are you the doctor?'

    In reported speech it should be 'The police officer asked if he was the doctor'.

    Rover
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