Results 1 to 8 of 8
Like Tree8Likes
  • 3 Post By bhaisahab
  • 2 Post By emka
  • 2 Post By 5jj
  • 1 Post By 5jj

Thread: 'will' vs 'would'

  1. #1
    Tan Elaine is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    1,550

    Default 'will' vs 'would'

    It has come to our attention that some residents have been feeding pigeons in the estate. We advise residents to refrain from feeding them because leftover food would attract insects and rats into the estate.

    Also, a dirty and unhygienic environment would pose a health problem for residents.

    1. In the above message, should 'will' be used instead of 'would'?

    2. Are there any errors in the message?

    Thanks.

  2. #2
    bhaisahab's Avatar
    bhaisahab is offline Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • England
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Posts
    16,159
    Teacher

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    Quote Originally Posted by Tan Elaine View Post
    It has come to our attention that some residents have been feeding pigeons on the estate. We advise residents to refrain from feeding them because leftover food would attract insects and rats into the estate.

    Also, a dirty and unhygienic environment would pose a health problem for residents.

    1. In the above message, should 'will' be used instead of 'would'?

    2. Are there any errors in the message?

    Thanks.
    I'd use "will" in the first part and "would" in the second.
    dilodi83, Tan Elaine and 5jj like this.

  3. #3
    ysc1230 is offline Junior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • Chinese
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Aug 2011
    Posts
    53

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    Quote Originally Posted by bhaisahab View Post
    I'd use "will" in the first part and "would" in the second.

    Hi teachers,

    I would use "would" for 1 and 2.

    But I don't know why I would use "would".


    Can you tell me why you use will for 1, and would for 2?

    Thank you very much.

  4. #4
    emka's Avatar
    emka is offline Junior Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • German
      • Home Country:
      • Germany
      • Current Location:
      • Germany
    Join Date
    Jan 2011
    Posts
    75

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    Not a teacher

    I would also use „would“ in both sentences because of the preceding verb „refrain from“, i.e. not do something.

    As the subordinate clause (because it would attract insects and rats….) is based on the assumption that the action won’t happen any more [people are nice and always follow requests, don’t they], a conditional verb form, i.e. would, is required.

    I read the sentence as follows:
    We advise residents to refrain from feeding the pigeons because [if they did continue – but of course they won’t] leftover food would attract insects and rats into the estate.


    (if-sentence, conditional construction; irrealis: expresses a condition that is either known to be false or unlikely).
    Last edited by emka; 11-Oct-2011 at 10:14. Reason: typo; addition of if-reference
    Tan Elaine and ysc1230 like this.

  5. #5
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    16,980
    Teacher

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    I read the sentence as follows:

    We advise residents to refrain from feeding the pigeons because the food that is left over from this current practice will, if it continues, attract insects and rats into the estate.
    bhaisahab and Tan Elaine like this.

  6. #6
    Tan Elaine is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    1,550
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    Thanks to all who replied to my post.

    Could somebody explain to me why 'would' should be used in the following sentence?

    Also, a dirty and unhygienic environment would
    pose a health problem for residents.

  7. #7
    5jj's Avatar
    5jj
    5jj is online now Moderator
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • English Teacher
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • England
      • Current Location:
      • Czech Republic
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Posts
    16,980
    Teacher

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    Quote Originally Posted by Tan Elaine View Post
    Could somebody explain to me why 'would' should be used in the following sentence?

    Also, a dirty and unhygienic environment would
    pose a health problem for residents.
    bhaisahab and I did not say either word 'should be used'. bhai said what he would say, and I said how I read it. Some people, like emka, read it in a different way. 'Will' is possible in the sentence you quoted.
    Tan Elaine likes this.

  8. #8
    Tan Elaine is offline Key Member
    • Member Info
      • Member Type:
      • Student or Learner
      • Native Language:
      • British English
      • Home Country:
      • Hong Kong
      • Current Location:
      • Hong Kong
    Join Date
    Jun 2008
    Posts
    1,550
    Threadstarter / Original Poster

    Default Re: 'will' vs 'would'

    Thanks, Fivejedjon.

    I'm glad to learn that either 'will' or 'would' can be used in the sentence I quoted.

    These two verbs are really confusing.
    Last edited by Tan Elaine; 12-Oct-2011 at 08:14.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  

Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.6.0