That crazy 'd

ScottsEnglish

The 'd has many different uses in English. 

"I'd rather be fishing" "You'd better do your homework" "I'd have gone, of course, but I was sick" "Where'd you hear that?" "He'd never tried it before" "What'd you do last night after the party?"

The actual sentences are: "I would rather be fishing"; "You had better do your homework"; "I would have gone, but I was sick"; "Where did you hear that?"; "He had never tried it before"; "What did you do last night after the party?"

The " 'd " construction is often used in spoken English, but be careful to write it out on your essays - had, would or did.

Is the 'd replacing the word "would", "did", or "had" in the following sentences?

1. I'd known the whole time that she was lying.
2. She'd have told you the right answer if you'd been listening.
3. They'd often go to the ice rink on Saturday morning when they were younger.
4. Who'd have thought that computers'd become obsolete?
5. How'd he find the solution? I thought he'd just made it up.

Click here for the correct answers:

1. I had known the whole time that she was lying.
2. She would have told you the right answer if you had been listening.
3. They would often go to the ice rink on Saturday morning when they were younger.
4. Who would have thought that computers would become obsolete?
5. How did he find the solution? I thought he had just made it up.