The abusage of Would in Singapore English: 1. The meeting would begin promptly at eight oclock. 2. From tomorrow, each packet would cost cost only twenty dollars. 3. It is hoped that the public bus lanes would help to ease the public transport problems. Singapore English has a tendency to prefer the auxiliary would in place of will even where the sentence is plain statement of fact. Would is used as if to soften or make politer the bald statement containing will. In Standard English, the use of would in a main clause usually implies that something would happen if something else took place but it is not a fact that it will happen: 3. The meeting WILL begin promptly at eight oclock. 4. From tomorrow, each packet WILL cost cost only twenty dollars. Similarly, in following dependent clauses where the normal sequence of tenses requires will the use of would is extremely common in Singapore English, especially in any kind of educated or formal writing: 5. It is hoped that the public bus lanes WILL help to ease the public transport problems. Source: pgs. 64-65, Singapore English and Standard English by W.J. Crewe.
Posted on: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 08:28:05 +0000
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