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eric
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Post subject: Will vs. Would  Posted: Tue Jul 24, 2007 12:12 pm |
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Please clarify when to use will vs. would?
I understand the construction: If X happen(s), then Y will happen. And, I understand that "would" is used in hypothetical situations.
What about: If X happen(ed), then Y will/would happen. (I think would is correct here, but can I make the generalization that if an event already occurred than "would" should be used?)
Thanks again for all your help.
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StaceyKoprince
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Post subject: Posted: Wed Jul 25, 2007 12:30 am |
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| ManhattanGMAT Staff |
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Posts: 6861
Location: San Francisco
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There are a lot of possible variations here; it depends in part on the meaning of the sentence. For instance, both of these are correct:
If it rained yesterday, then I used my umbrella.
If my car died, I would be unhappy.
If my car dies, I will be unhappy.
The first is referring to an actual event and is set up as an if-then statement; the second is a past-tense hypothetical; the third is a present-tense possibility. In the hypothetical circumstance, yes, I use "would" not "will." But note that the generalization is not that the event occurred, in the second case. The generalization is that if I use a past-tense hypothetical, then I use "would."
_________________
Stacey Koprince
Instructor
Director of Online Community
ManhattanGMAT
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davetzulin
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Post subject: Re: Will vs. Would Posted: Wed Apr 11, 2012 1:57 am |
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Stacey, the guide doesn't mention hypothetical construction using "should"
there is a problem with an official answer using (no idea what the source of the problem is)
"should + verb in bare form, will "
ie
should he eat the cake, he will feel sick
is the below also ok? it sounds OK, but not sure if "would" is playing its role as future from the past point of view OR a helping verb indicating uncertainty
should he eat the cake, he would feel sick
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tim
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Post subject: Re: Will vs. Would Posted: Sun Apr 29, 2012 2:54 am |
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| ManhattanGMAT Staff |
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Posts: 4404
Location: Southwest Airlines, seat 21C
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you know, i'm going to hold off on making a decision on either of these examples until someone demonstrates an actual GMAT problem where this shows up. i don't recall ever seeing this issue being tested, and there's no point in worrying about sentence structures that just never show up..
_________________
Tim Sanders
Manhattan GMAT Instructor
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