پاسخ دهید - English

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What is the difference between "I was to have helped with the performance,but I got flue" and "I was going to help the.." and " I was planning to ..."

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ash_9870 profile picture ash_9870August 2017
they all mean pretty much the same thing.
"I was to have helped with the performance, but I got flue" should be "I was going to help with the performance, but I got the flu."

"I was going to help the" is accurate
AussieInBg profile picture AussieInBgSeptember 2024
In all cases, they are about ideas/plans which ultimately did not happen. That’s where the similarities end.

”I was to have helped” - the structural form ”to have done sth” emphasises the importance of the object, in this case ”the performance” to the context of the conversation. Being unable to ”help with the performance” is the focus of the conversation here, not your illness.

”I was going to help..” the emphasis is on ”I”. Help with the performace is secondary. You would probably use this form is you want to complain about getting the ’flu.

” I was planning to help ...” - we would tend to use this when talking about an activity which forms part of a larger plan. There are likely other plans which were cancelled because you got the ’flu.
ciedixon profile picture ciedixonAugust 2017
Like ash said, "I was to have help with the performance, but I got the flu."
OR
"I was going to help at the performance, but I got the flu."
"I was planning to help with the performance, but I got the flu."
They all mean the same thing, but the first one is a little strange sounding. It is not incorrect, though I would use one of the other two options in normal coversation.