Question on grammar!

Test Preparation
1

<p>The loosely knit group found refuge in Zurich, Switzerland, a neutral country. From this safe haven, the Dadaists <strong><em>HURLED</em></strong> ridicule and abuse at nationalism, rationalism, materialism and any other modern "ism" that they believed had contributed to the breakdwon of society and allowed the war.</p>

<p>What's the difference between "hurled" and "would hurl" there?</p>

<p>I always wanted to know: does it change the meaning of the setence if I put "would <em>present tense</em>" instead of a past tense verb?</p>

<p>I think I see a tendency of the latter form when telling a story.</p>

2

<p>"hurled" implies an action that has already occured.
"would hurl" implies a possible future action, or an action that will occur in the future with the past a a context.</p>