Discussion:
all the days next week?
(too old to reply)
A.E lover
2008-04-25 02:35:06 UTC
Permalink
Hi all,

A person asked me about my availablity next week. I answered him that
"I will be free all the days of next week". Is my anwser is idiomatic?

if you were I, what would you use?

Thanks
rtnda@aol.com
2008-04-25 02:42:46 UTC
Permalink
Post by A.E lover
Hi all,
A person asked me about my availablity next week. I answered him that
"I will be free all the days of next week". Is my anwser is idiomatic?
if you were I, what would you use?
Thanks
I'd say, I'm free all next week, or I'm free every day next week."

But first I'd find out what he or she had in mind. If he wants help
moving a piano, I am not free at all. If he's buying dinner, then any
day will do.
Oleg Lego
2008-04-25 04:27:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by A.E lover
Hi all,
A person asked me about my availablity next week. I answered him that
"I will be free all the days of next week". Is my anwser is idiomatic?
if you were I, what would you use?
"I'll be free all week."
"Any day next week would be fine."
Mark Brader
2008-04-25 05:11:11 UTC
Permalink
Post by Oleg Lego
A person asked me about my availablity next week. I answered him that
"I will be free all the days of next week". Is my anwser is idiomatic?
You mean "Is my answer idiomatic?" No, it isn't.
Post by Oleg Lego
"I'll be free all week."
With this answer, the other person might say "Good, then I need you for the
whole week" or "I need you for an hour every day."
Post by Oleg Lego
"Any day next week would be fine."
With this answer, you are offering a maximum of one day (or less), so you
will still have time to do other things.

Of course, if you are trying to schedule something that takes a limited
time, like a dinner or a medical appointment, then the two are equivalent.
But if you are trying to schedule some work, say, then they are quite
different.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Anyone who can handle a needle convincingly can make
***@vex.net | us see a thread which is not there." --E.H. Gombrich

My text in this article is in the public domain.
A.E lover
2008-04-25 10:44:51 UTC
Permalink
Thank you guys for the useful answers.

Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?

Thanks
Post by Oleg Lego
A person asked me about my availablity next week.  I answered him that
"I will be free all the days of next week".  Is my anwser is idiomatic?
You mean "Is my answer idiomatic?"  No, it isn't.
Post by Oleg Lego
"I'll be free all week."
With this answer, the other person might say "Good, then I need you for the
whole week" or "I need you for an hour every day."
Post by Oleg Lego
"Any day next week would be fine."
With this answer, you are offering a maximum of one day (or less), so you
will still have time to do other things.
Of course, if you are trying to schedule something that takes a limited
time, like a dinner or a medical appointment, then the two are equivalent.
But if you are trying to schedule some work, say, then they are quite
different.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Anyone who can handle a needle convincingly can make
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Nick Spalding
2008-04-25 11:28:42 UTC
Permalink
A.E lover wrote, in
Post by A.E lover
Thank you guys for the useful answers.
Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
Thanks
Will is too definite. Whatever is proposed may never happen.
Post by A.E lover
Post by Oleg Lego
A person asked me about my availablity next week.  I answered him that
"I will be free all the days of next week".  Is my anwser is idiomatic?
You mean "Is my answer idiomatic?"  No, it isn't.
Post by Oleg Lego
"I'll be free all week."
With this answer, the other person might say "Good, then I need you for the
whole week" or "I need you for an hour every day."
Post by Oleg Lego
"Any day next week would be fine."
With this answer, you are offering a maximum of one day (or less), so you
will still have time to do other things.
Of course, if you are trying to schedule something that takes a limited
time, like a dinner or a medical appointment, then the two are equivalent.
But if you are trying to schedule some work, say, then they are quite
different.
--
Mark Brader, Toronto | "Anyone who can handle a needle convincingly can make
My text in this article is in the public domain.
--
Nick Spalding
BrE/IrE
Oleg Lego
2008-04-25 14:06:53 UTC
Permalink
Post by A.E lover
Thank you guys for the useful answers.
Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
I would use either one, with no reason for choosing either. I would
usually say "would" in this case, though I don't know why.
Bob Cunningham
2008-04-26 07:49:50 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:06:53 -0600, Oleg Lego
Post by Oleg Lego
Post by A.E lover
Thank you guys for the useful answers.
Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
I would use either one, with no reason for choosing either. I would
usually say "would" in this case, though I don't know why.
I see a clear distinction. "Any day next week would be
fine" implies a tentative arrangement, a meeting whose
occurrence is still in doubt, while "Any day next week will
be fine" implies a meeting that has been firmly agreed upon,
with only the time to be fixed.
Oleg Lego
2008-04-27 04:32:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by Bob Cunningham
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:06:53 -0600, Oleg Lego
Post by Oleg Lego
Post by A.E lover
Thank you guys for the useful answers.
Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
I would use either one, with no reason for choosing either. I would
usually say "would" in this case, though I don't know why.
I see a clear distinction. "Any day next week would be
fine" implies a tentative arrangement, a meeting whose
occurrence is still in doubt, while "Any day next week will
be fine" implies a meeting that has been firmly agreed upon,
with only the time to be fixed.
I don't recognize any distinction between them. None at all.
Amethyst Deceiver
2008-04-28 14:20:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Oleg Lego
Post by Bob Cunningham
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:06:53 -0600, Oleg Lego
Post by Oleg Lego
Post by A.E lover
Thank you guys for the useful answers.
Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
I would use either one, with no reason for choosing either. I would
usually say "would" in this case, though I don't know why.
I see a clear distinction. "Any day next week would be
fine" implies a tentative arrangement, a meeting whose
occurrence is still in doubt, while "Any day next week will
be fine" implies a meeting that has been firmly agreed upon,
with only the time to be fixed.
I don't recognize any distinction between them. None at all.
I'm with you here. I'd be more likely to use "will" than "would" but
either would be unremarkable.
--
Linz
Wet Yorks via Cambridge, York, London and Watford
My accent may vary
R J Valentine
2008-04-28 14:55:06 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:20:52 +0100 Amethyst Deceiver <***@lindsayendell.co.uk> wrote:

} In article <***@4ax.com>,
} ***@atatatat.com says...
}>
}> On Sat, 26 Apr 2008 00:49:50 -0700, Bob Cunningham posted:
}>
}> >On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:06:53 -0600, Oleg Lego
}> ><***@atatatat.com> said:
}> >
}> >>
}> >> On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 03:44:51 -0700 (PDT), A.E lover posted:
}> >>
}> >> >Thank you guys for the useful answers.
}> >> >
}> >> >Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
}> >> >wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
}> >>
}> >> I would use either one, with no reason for choosing either. I would
}> >> usually say "would" in this case, though I don't know why.
}> >
}> >I see a clear distinction. "Any day next week would be
}> >fine" implies a tentative arrangement, a meeting whose
}> >occurrence is still in doubt, while "Any day next week will
}> >be fine" implies a meeting that has been firmly agreed upon,
}> >with only the time to be fixed.
}>
}> I don't recognize any distinction between them. None at all.
}
} I'm with you here. I'd be more likely to use "will" than "would" but
} either would be unremarkable.

I recognize the same distinction that Mr. Cunningham sees, and I'd see the
"will" version as ever-so-slightly presumptuous.
--
rjv
Bob Cunningham
2008-04-28 17:13:57 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 28 Apr 2008 15:20:52 +0100, Amethyst Deceiver
Post by Amethyst Deceiver
Post by Oleg Lego
Post by Bob Cunningham
On Fri, 25 Apr 2008 08:06:53 -0600, Oleg Lego
Post by Oleg Lego
Post by A.E lover
Thank you guys for the useful answers.
Regarding the second answer: "any day next week would be fine". I am
wondering why it can be "would" here. should it to be "will"?
I would use either one, with no reason for choosing either. I would
usually say "would" in this case, though I don't know why.
I see a clear distinction. "Any day next week would be
fine" implies a tentative arrangement, a meeting whose
occurrence is still in doubt, while "Any day next week will
be fine" implies a meeting that has been firmly agreed upon,
with only the time to be fixed.
I don't recognize any distinction between them. None at all.
I'm with you here. I'd be more likely to use "will" than "would" but
either would be unremarkable.
"Would" has a connotation of doubt: "will", of certainty.

Consider

I would be rich if I had lots of money.
I will be rich when I get lots of money.

Any day would be okay for the meeting (if we
were going to have a meeting).

Any day will be okay for the meeting (that we
have agreed to have).

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