rien n’aurait donc changé (usage du conditionnel « journalistique »)

guiyijuchang

guiyijuchang

Member
Mandarin, Cantonese
"Depuis toutes ces années, rien n’aurait donc changé sur ces fusées et tout cet argent n’aurait servi à rien à part peut-être satisfaire notre propre curiosité."
"[...] nothing would have changed on these rockets and all this money would have been for nothing [...]" by google translate.

My question: in this sentence, is the writer trying to express regret that people have been wasting money on launching rockets? because in English google translated it into "would have".

And I actually don't understand what this sentence is trying to say. Is it like "nothing would change on these rockets and ......" but in the past tense? like a hypothetical situation that happened in the past?

Many Thanks in advance!
 
Last edited by a moderator:
    • guiyijuchang said:
    in this sentence, is the writer trying to express regret that people have been wasting money on launching rockets?
    Click to expand...
    Despite the money that was invested, it seems that nothing has changed on these rockets.
    More context would help clarifying what the author means by "nothing has changed on the rockets", but it's more specific than just wasting money on launching rockets.
     
    The author is taking some distance with the statement, it's not "rien n'a changé" (it's the truth and I am sure of it) but "rien n'aurait changé" (I'm being told nothing has changed). Is this from a journalist? It's common for them to use this tense to show the statement is not theirs or not verified.
     
    Last edited:
    Il n'est pas quesition de regret. Le conditionnel est usuel pour exprimer cette distance par rapport aux propos qu'on rapporte et atténuer l'affirmation.

    Si l'on en croit.../ À en croire..../ Selon.../ D'après..., rien n'aurait changé.

    Il nous faut ce qui précède l'enchaînement donc.

    En attendant, voir ces fils du forum de grammaire :
    FR: conditionnel journalistique - conditional meaning reportedly, allegedly, supposedly
    FR: suggère que certains troubles seraient propres à la maladie - conditionnel
    FR: Selon certaines sources, les soldats tireraient/auraient tiré sur X - conditionnel présent/passé
     
    Last edited:
    guiyijuchang said:
    ... is the writer trying to express regret that people have been wasting money on launching rockets?
    Click to expand...
    No this doesn't express regret.
    This type of structure allows the author to make a less clear-cut statement. He thinks the statement is true but this gives him some leeway.

    In English, you would say: ... apparently nothing has changed ... it would appear that all this money has been spent for nothing...
     
    You must log in or register to reply here.
    Back
    Top