diamondcutter
Senior Member
- Joined
- Oct 21, 2014
- Member Type
- English Teacher
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- China
- Current Location
- China
“Oh, boys. Don't throw stones at the poor bird.” said an old grey-headed man.
“Sir,” said a little one, “she made such a loud noise that we can't bear her.”
“I am afraid the stone will rebound and hurt you as long as you live!”
“Rebound!” We don't understand you, sir.”
“Well, I will tell you a true story.”
“Fifty years ago, I liked throwing stones because I had no other boy to play with and I became very skillful. One day I went to work for an old couple who were very friendly to everybody even to the birds. And the birds seemed to love the old couple, too. For seven years a bird had come and built her nest in the same place. She and her mate had just returned on the day I went to work and the old couple welcomed them happily. During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her. Suddenly the bird flew to a tree near me. I found a nice stone, and I threw it with my best skill. It hit the bird on the head and she dropped dead!
(Source: the English test paper, senior high school entrance exams, Henan province, China, 2021)
During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her.
In the sentence above, I’d like to know whether it’s good to use “could” to replace “would”.
“Sir,” said a little one, “she made such a loud noise that we can't bear her.”
“I am afraid the stone will rebound and hurt you as long as you live!”
“Rebound!” We don't understand you, sir.”
“Well, I will tell you a true story.”
“Fifty years ago, I liked throwing stones because I had no other boy to play with and I became very skillful. One day I went to work for an old couple who were very friendly to everybody even to the birds. And the birds seemed to love the old couple, too. For seven years a bird had come and built her nest in the same place. She and her mate had just returned on the day I went to work and the old couple welcomed them happily. During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her. Suddenly the bird flew to a tree near me. I found a nice stone, and I threw it with my best skill. It hit the bird on the head and she dropped dead!
(Source: the English test paper, senior high school entrance exams, Henan province, China, 2021)
During the day, I thought I would try my skill upon her.
In the sentence above, I’d like to know whether it’s good to use “could” to replace “would”.
