Results 1 to 3 of 3
Like Tree2Likes
  • 1 Post By BobK
  • 1 Post By 5jj

Thread: I shouldn't wonder if you didn't make/made

  1. #1
    suprunp's Avatar
    suprunp is offline Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Ukrainian
      • Home Country:
      • Ukraine
      • Current Location:
      • Ukraine
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
    Posts
    491

    Default I shouldn't wonder if you didn't make/made

    [A heroine's mother talking to a would-be son-in-law] And take it all in all I don’t dislike you. I shouldn’t wonder if you didn’t make Annette a better husband than that teacher. And with the baby coming and all.’
    (W.S. Maugham; The Unconquered)

    I would surmise from the surrounding context, which can't be revealed through these three sentences, that she thinks he would make Annette a better husband than 'that teacher'. But why doesn't she say "I shouldn't wonder if you made..."?

    I infer that the variant in the original sentence is used as well, but how would you express this thought?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    BobK's Avatar
    BobK is offline Harmless drudge
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • English
      • Home Country:
      • UK
      • Current Location:
      • UK
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Posts
    14,933

    Default Re: I shouldn't wonder if you didn't make/made

    I would probably use 'made', but there's a tendency to slip into the present - especially in speech.

    b
    suprunp likes this.

  3. #3
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Retired English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    24,122

    Default Re: I shouldn't wonder if you didn't make/made

    This negative construction when logic tells you it should be affirmative is strange, but not uncommon with 'I shouldn't wonder/be surprised ...'
    suprunp likes this.
    Context is important. Please provide enough for us to be able to deal effectively with your question.
    Your thread title should include all or part of the word/phrase being discussed.
    If you just want to know the meaning of a word, try OneLook Dictionary Search first.


Similar Threads

  1. make or made
    By atabitaraf in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 11-Jan-2011, 23:56
  2. make or made
    By mikan96 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 31-Oct-2008, 19:22
  3. make or made
    By rayz26 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 5
    Last Post: 05-Aug-2008, 14:19
  4. make/made
    By peter123 in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 12-Jan-2008, 19:12
  5. could not make it or could not have made it?
    By yppah in forum Ask a Teacher
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 05-Dec-2006, 10:27

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Hotchalk

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.1