#1  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 04:30
Key Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,814
Member Type: Student or Learner
Question TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Q2 - I wish they ____ keep the noise down next door.
would
could




I think "could" is better than "would". Frankly, I think "would" is wrong.




Kind Regards,
Blacknomi
  #2  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 04:41
Steven D's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 834
Member Type: English Teacher
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
Q2 - I wish they ____ keep the noise down next door.
would
could




I think "could" is better than "would". Frankly, I think "would" is wrong.




Kind Regards,
Blacknomi
I wish they would keep the noise down next door. - If they don't, then they don't want to.

I wish they could keep the noise down next door. - If they don't, then maybe they are unable to for some reason.

If there is noise next door, then I think the sentence with "would" is more likely.

Context would determine this, as well as the speaker's point of view. It's possible to use the sentence with "could", but I would then ask, "Why "could" and not "would"?"

Does the speaker believe that for some reason they can't keep the noise down? If so, I would say "could" is a likely choice.

Does the speaker believe they refuse to keep the noise down, or would refuse if asked? If so, the I would say "would" is a likely choice.

Despite these differences and viewpoints, one might say they mean the same thing. I tend to think speakers have reasons for choosing "would" or "could" in such a case. I would, therefore, say that there is a difference in meaning.

  #3  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 04:45
Steven D's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 834
Member Type: English Teacher
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
Q2 - I wish they ____ keep the noise down next door.
would
could




I think "could" is better than "would". Frankly, I think "would" is wrong.




Kind Regards,
Blacknomi
No, "would" is not wrong. However, try saying "I wish I would keep the noise down." How does that sound to you? I ask because using "I wish I would" has come up before here. So, I'm curious about what you think about it as someone whose first language is not English.

Thanks,

  #4  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 19:10
Key Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,814
Member Type: Student or Learner
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Mode
I wish they would keep the noise down next door. - If they don't, then they don't want to.
I have hard time understanding "would" in this example.


Quote:
Originally Posted by X Mode
I wish they could keep the noise down next door. - If they don't, then maybe they are unable to for some reason.
I don't have problem with this one.


Quote:
Originally Posted by X Mode
If there is noise next door, then I think the sentence with "would" is more likely.
Right on! There's noise next door! "Shuddap, neightbors!" I murmurred. But in real life, I am extremely polite to people so I may ask them,


"Could you please keep the voice down? (Or I'll call the police now!)" Here "could" doesn't really mean the ability of doing something but more like a polite request. But if the interrogtive starts with "can", then it implies somewhat ability and direct request.


"Would you keep the voice down?" It sounds like an indirect order or a less polite request because one is asking the other one's willingness to do something instead of putting himself to other's shoes.


So,
I wish they could. They accepted the request and would do that.
"Could I? Of course, I'm sorry! I'll keep it down down."
  #5  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 19:25
Key Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,814
Member Type: Student or Learner
Question Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Quote:
Originally Posted by X Mode
No, "would" is not wrong. However, try saying "I wish I would keep the noise down." How does that sound to you? I ask because using "I wish I would" has come up before here. So, I'm curious about what you think about it as someone whose first language is not English.

Thanks,

Hello! X Mode,
I'm sorry. It sounds odd to my ear. Do tell it if I am not on the wrong track!


Let me tell you how I feel,
"I wish I could keep the noise down."


I wish I could, but in reality, I can't. Why not?
"I can't because I just can not do it. When the vaccum cleans the carpet, it makes a lot of noise and it's designed to be like this. How can I do with it? You tell me! I would like to/want keep it down of course, I can't tolerate it myself. Well...I wish I had the ability to keep it quieter." I wouldn't think it a willingness to do something. It's simple that I can't do it.I am not the master of its mind. I wish I were, then I could. It's odd to say "would."




It's your turn now!
  #6  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 21:19
Editor, UsingEnglish.com
 
Join Date: Nov 2002
Posts: 34,359
Home Country: UK
Native Language: British English
Current Location: Philippines
Member Type: English Teacher
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

I'll look at this in a couple of days. I'm afraid I won't be online for a few days as I'm travelling.
  #7  
Old 06-Nov-2004, 22:52
Steven D's Avatar
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Posts: 834
Member Type: English Teacher
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
Hello! X Mode,
I'm sorry. It sounds odd to my ear. Do tell it if I am not on the wrong track!


Let me tell you how I feel,
"I wish I could keep the noise down."


I wish I could, but in reality, I can't. Why not?
"I can't because I just can not do it. When the vaccum cleans the carpet, it makes a lot of noise and it's designed to be like this. How can I do with it? You tell me! I would like to/want keep it down of course, I can't tolerate it myself. Well...I wish I had the ability to keep it quieter." I wouldn't think it a willingness to do something. It's simple that I can't do it.I am not the master of its mind. I wish I were, then I could. It's odd to say "would."




It's your turn now!
You've got it. You're correct. It doesn't make sense to use "would" with "I wish" oftentimes. It can, but the context would have to allow for it. It would have to be a certain type of wish. It is possible that there is reason to use "could" here. "I wish I could the noise down."

There's no reason to think that you're refusing to keep the noise down or that for some reason it's impossible for you to do so if you are the one making the noise.

I've explained this before. I, at times, did not feel confident that people knew what I meant. They saw the "grammatical possibility". I'm not sure if they saw that it didn't make sense. Anyway, it's only come up a few times. And I won't bring it up if no one else does.

  #8  
Old 07-Nov-2004, 15:02
Key Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,814
Member Type: Student or Learner
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
I'll look at this in a couple of days. I'm afraid I won't be online for a few days as I'm travelling.
Have a nice trip!
  #9  
Old 07-Nov-2004, 15:21
Key Member
Threadstarter  
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 1,814
Member Type: Student or Learner
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

I still have poroblems dealing with 'would' in this case. Could you explain more? I need your help.





Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
I have hard time understanding "would" in this example.


I don't have problem with this one.


Right on! There's noise next door! "Shuddap, neightbors!" I murmurred. But in real life, I am extremely polite to people so I may ask them,


"Could you please keep the voice down? (Or I'll call the police now!)" Here "could" doesn't really mean the ability of doing something but more like a polite request. But if the interrogtive starts with "can", then it implies somewhat ability and direct request.


"Would you keep the voice down?" It sounds like an indirect order or a less polite request because one is asking the other one's willingness to do something instead of putting himself to other's shoes.


So,
I wish they could. They accepted the request and would do that.
"Could I? Of course, I'm sorry! I'll keep it down down."
  #10  
Old 13-Nov-2004, 19:48
RonBee's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 16,539
Home Country: United States
Native Language: American English
Current Location: United States
Member Type: Other
Default Re: TDOL: UE Quiz-Wish

"Could you keep the noise down?" is a polite way of making a request. Still, you would like them to keep the noise down. What they would do (if you had your way) would be quieter.

Closed Thread

Bookmarks

Tags
tdol, quizwish


Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Missing Word: Gap fill Quiz Red5 General Language Discussions 1 15-May-2008 20:24
Grammar Terms Quiz Red5 General Language Discussions 10 08-Dec-2004 13:17
to Tdol Anonymous Ask a Teacher 1 30-Apr-2004 18:36
TO TDOL AND MIKENEWYORK. Anonymous Ask a Teacher 2 29-Apr-2004 00:37
quiz question janet bucknall Ask a Teacher 5 07-Jan-2003 00:14


All times are GMT. The time now is 20:25.



Content Relevant URLs by vBSEO ©2011, Crawlability, Inc.