Would

[towcats1]

What does it mean?
[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] "Americans that I have consulted would all recognise this expression, as they would an almost identical expression it's (not) the done thing to[/FONT]".
(BBCWORLDSERVICE)
Would is the modal verb. Where is the main verb ? :roll:

 

[Tarheel]

recognise

 

[SoothingDave]

"Recognize" is understood in the second phrase. Just like "I can eat more chicken wings than he can." The second "eat" is understood.

 

[towcats1]

We have two "would",the first one for recognise.I mean the second.

 

[Rover_KE]

'Recognise' is understood after the second 'would'.

 

[towcats1]

We placed our messages simultaneously-SoothingDave and me. Can I use " to place" ? Is it correct ?

 

[Tarheel]

We placed our messages simultaneously-SoothingDave and me. Can I use " to place" ? Is it correct ?

I don't know what that refers to, but while we're at it, what does "it's not the done thing to" mean?

:-?

 

[towcats1]

I don't know . Here you are (the explanation) http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv151.shtml

 

[emsr2d2]

"It's not the done thing to + verb ..." makes sense. "It's not the done thing to" as a standalone sentence is ungrammatical. Is the phrase not used in AmE?

 

[Tarheel]

Neither "It's not the thing done" nor "It's not the done thing" are familiar at all to me. (Sometimes it amazes me how many differences there are between BrE and AmE.) Nevertheless, rather than comment on whether the phrase is or isn't used, I'll stick to what I know (which isn't much ;-).

 

[emsr2d2]

It's basically to do with etiquette (of a sort). If something is not appropriate in a certain situation, then it is "not the done thing" (ie "not a thing you should do").

 

[towcats1]

"[FONT=Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]In British English, both of these expressions are commonly used."[/FONT] It's from the teachers' answer. (http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/grammar/learnit/learnitv151.shtml)

 

[towcats1]

Neither "It's not the thing done" nor "It's not the done thing" are familiar at all to me. (Sometimes it amazes me how many differences there are between BrE and AmE.) Nevertheless, rather than comment on whether the phrase is or isn't used, I'll stick to what I know (which isn't much ;-).

In two days I've understood - you are speaking AmE.

 

[Tarheel]

In two days I've understood - you are speaking AmE.

I'm not speaking at all. I'm typing. ;-)

(Say I understand, not I've understood.)

 

[towcats1]

I fancied typing 2 times 'like' . When can I use ' I've understood'? It's a little strange expression.

 

[emsr2d2]

"I've understood" can be used in things like "I have understood everything you have said so far but I have more questions". However, when you are trying to tell someone that you (now) understand something because they just explained it to you, then "I understand" is appropriate.