he said he would do it in a few days means he would finish it in a few days or start in a few days?
2006-10-30 00:47:17 · 20 answers · asked by Anonymous in Society & Culture ➔ Languages
I wouldn't count on him to have it finished in a few days, although grammatically I'd say "do it" implies completion. He could also mean "over the course of a few days" and THAT could be years from now.
2006-10-30 00:54:18 · answer #1 · answered by Goddess of Grammar 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Not to be a nit picker but this has nothing do do with grammer. It has to do with the meaning of a phrase.
This is a general phrase and could be used to mean either. But based on normal human nature to put things off I would typically expect this to mean that it would start in a few days. As before a few days had passed this person would be doing nothing. Because during those few days they are not doing it.
2006-10-30 00:58:20 · answer #2 · answered by John 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You are talking about indirect speech - he would have said....
"I will do it in a few days"
This can mean either of the examples you gave.
He said that he would do it in a few days - would be correct if he is talking about cracking a code for example. He will start today and it will take a few days.
"I will do it in a few days" - he is starting now and in a few days he will have cracked the code.
or
He said that he would do it in a few days - would be correct if he is talking about some work he is planning to start in a few days and intends to finish quickly.
For example: "I will do it in a few days" He will start writing his essay in a few days and finish it shortly thereafter.
A bit of a tricky question!
2006-10-30 01:08:59 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He will start it in a few days, if the task takes lot of time then, it means he will start now and finish it in few days, which amount of time he is not sure of !
2006-10-30 00:50:22 · answer #4 · answered by Syed M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If it is something that takes longer than a day to finish, he means he will start on it in a few days. If he meant finish it, he would have need to say he would finish it in a few days.
Not really a grammar rule, more one of etiquette - but there you are.
2006-10-30 00:49:16 · answer #5 · answered by Ciaoenrico 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
His meaning is ambiguous and could mean either that he would begin it in a few days from now, that he would finish it a few days after beginning it, without saying when he would begin it, or that he would begin it, work on it, and finish it, all within a few days from now.
2006-10-30 00:51:11 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
usually when people say that they mean that they are going to get started...in a few days.
2006-10-30 00:57:00 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
He would complete the task in a few days?
The question is kinda confusing
2006-10-30 00:49:01 · answer #8 · answered by MikeZ 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it should be finished in a few days...
To avoid confusion, ask when it will be compleated. If he says in a "few days" then confirm by saying "I can expect it done on Wednesday"?
2006-10-30 00:52:35 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm guessing here, but I'll say he'll start in a few days.
2006-10-30 00:49:02 · answer #10 · answered by BeezKneez 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋