would take it to mean

[Kontol]

How does "would" function in this sentence? And also, if just saying "take it to mean" without "would", is it wrong?

Selet: Does "openings" here mean chance?
Chelsea still dominating the ball so far, but Norwich having a few more openings...

Peter: I would take it to mean opportunities. The wordopening is often used in this sense; for example, a job opening = a job opportunity (e.g. a job that’s become vacant).

 

[Tdol]

Would is unnecessary - the speaker is not committing 100% - and openings means that Norwich are having some opportunities to break through the defence. (Not a football fan)

 

[Rover_KE]

I agree with Tdol.

(Big football fan)

 

[jutfrank]

The would is not non-committal here. It has a loose kind of conditional meaning: 'If I heard that sentence, I would take it to mean ...'

 

[Kontol]

If the second speaker doesn't use "would" dan just say "I take it to mean opportunities", what is the difference?

 

[jutfrank]

If the second speaker doesn't use "would" dan just say "I take it to mean opportunities", what is the difference?

Practically speaking, none.

Move on to a different question, Kontol.

 

[Tdol]

How did Norwich do?

 

[Rover_KE]

They lost that match and were subsequently relegated.