would or will
- Thread starter jack
- Start date
- Status
'Would' is used when you are talking about imaginary or hypothetical things. Here in this sentence, I believe that you won't pay for it(in true). But, I am setting up an imaginary situation that you wouldn't pay for it, which is a bit contradictary to my belief.
It's the if(conditional)-concept that being used in the sentence rather than its structure, "If..., I would..... ." Do you understand?
This one is not refering to any imaginary situation. It's a neutral fact that you will not pay for it. That's all.
If I use the former sentence, I'm not very confident if you would pay for it or not. That is to say, there're two possibilities, you would or you would not. If I use the latter sentence, I think you will not pay. There's only one possibility I have in my mind. But who knows if you change your mind and you will pay for it.
blacknomi said:'Would' is used when you are talking about imaginary or hypothetical things. Here in this sentence, I believe that you won't pay for it(in true). But, I am setting up an imaginary situation that you wouldn't pay for it, which is a bit contradictary to my belief.
It's the if(conditional)-concept that being used in the sentence rather than its structure, "If..., I would..... ." Do you understand?
This one is not refering to any imaginary situation. It's a neutral fact that you will not pay for it. That's all.
If I use the former sentence, I'm not very confident if you would pay for it or not. That is to say, there're two possibilities, you would or you would not. If I use the latter sentence, I think you will not pay. There's only one possibility I have in my mind. But who knows if you change your mind and you will pay for it.
Hi there,
That makes sense to me. I'll just see if I can put it into my own words. They might turn out to be similar to yours.
I don't think that you'd want to pay for it, (if....) Conditional
If the speaker uses "would", then he/she sees the possibility as being more distant. To the speaker, it is less of a possibility.
If the speaker uses "will", then he/she sees the possibility as being closer to reality. It is more of a possibility to the speaker.
I don't think you'd want to pay for it if it were over $500.00.
The listener might already have considered paying for it. The speaker is more cautious. There is not a good chance that it is going to be over $500.00 in the first place - I don't think.
I don't think you'll want to pay for it if it is over $500.00.
There's more of a chance here that it could be over $500.00 in the speaker's mind for some reason. We would need more context to know what the speaker is thinking about when he/she chooses to use either the first conditional or the second conditional - would as opposed to will.
I might have more to say on this later. I might have one or two other examples. I have one with some context surrounding it.
I'll have to dig it up later.
8) :shock:X Mode said:That makes sense to me. I'll just see if I can put it into my own words. They might turn out to be similar to yours.
Thank you, X Mode.
:drinking: :angel: :infinity: :hi: :cheers:
:up: :up: :up:
:changes: :squarewi: :infinity:
I love your explanation which make people dig. If there is enough oxegon and popcorn under the ground, digging can be fun!
Thanks.
Are these correct? If not, why?
1. If I did not connect it correcly, there would be no sound. (Imaginary?)
2. If I did not connect it correcly, there will be no sound. (What does this mean?)
Are these correct?
3. If I did not connect it correcly, there will be no sound right now.
4. If I did not connect it correcly, there would be no sound right now.
Are these correct? If not, why?
1. If I did not connect it correcly, there would be no sound. (Imaginary?)
2. If I did not connect it correcly, there will be no sound. (What does this mean?)
Are these correct?
3. If I did not connect it correcly, there will be no sound right now.
4. If I did not connect it correcly, there would be no sound right now.
- Joined
- Nov 13, 2002
- Member Type
- Native Language
- British English
- Home Country
- UK
- Current Location
- Japan
1 is correct if talking about an imaginary situation and 2 would be better if you said 'haven't connected it correctly'. I don't see the need for 'right now' in 3&4- there's no need for emphasis.;-)
blacknomi said:X Mode said:That makes sense to me. I'll just see if I can put it into my own words. They might turn out to be similar to yours.
Thank you, X Mode.
:hi: :cheers:
:up: :up: :up:
:changes: :squarewi: :infinity:
I love your explanation which make people dig. If there is enough oxegon and popcorn under the ground, digging can be fun!
Thanks you, and you're welcome.
8) :shock: What do these mean? Does it matter if I use present, present or past, past or present, past or present, or present past?
1. If I’m getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
2. If I’m getting some proper sleep right now, I will be more awake right now.
3. If I was getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
4. If I was getting some proper sleep, I will be more awake right now.
What do these mean?
5. I would like to thank you.
6. I will like to thank you .
1. If I’m getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
2. If I’m getting some proper sleep right now, I will be more awake right now.
3. If I was getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
4. If I was getting some proper sleep, I will be more awake right now.
What do these mean?
5. I would like to thank you.
6. I will like to thank you .
Does it matter if I use 'present /w present' or 'past /w past' or 'present /w past' or 'past /w present'?
What do these mean if I mix and match it?
1. If I’m getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
2. If I’m getting some proper sleep right now, I will be more awake right now.
3. If I were getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
4. If I were getting some proper sleep, I will be more awake right now.
5. I would like to thank you. (How come this doesn't mean past tense?)
6. I will like to thank you . (How come I don't see anyone using this?)
What do these mean?
7. What do these mean if I mix and match it? (Right now?)
8. What do these mean if I mixed and matched it? (Past?)
9. What do these mean if I mix and matched it? (Is this correct?)
What do these mean if I mix and match it?
1. If I’m getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
2. If I’m getting some proper sleep right now, I will be more awake right now.
3. If I were getting some proper sleep, I would be more awake right now.
4. If I were getting some proper sleep, I will be more awake right now.
5. I would like to thank you. (How come this doesn't mean past tense?)
6. I will like to thank you . (How come I don't see anyone using this?)
What do these mean?
7. What do these mean if I mix and match it? (Right now?)
8. What do these mean if I mixed and matched it? (Past?)
9. What do these mean if I mix and matched it? (Is this correct?)
jack said:
Yes. It matters. Use: If ... were... , ... would.... (Subjunctive)
jack said:
In that context, 'would' functions as a modal. There are two verbs WOULD: 1) the past tense of 'will' and 2) the modal 'would'.
jack said:
'will' expresses volition: an action is required. The word 'like' is not an action, so it's not compatible with 'will'.
jack said:7. What do these mean if I mix and match them?
8. What do these mean if I mixed and matched them?
9. What do these mean if I mix and matched them?
Present Verbs
What do these mean if I mix and match them?
1. I will like to thank you. (How can I correct this without using 'would'?)
So this is wrong no matter what?
2. What do these mean if I mixed and matched them?
Why is the one above wrong?
Both of these are correct? But not the one above?
eg. I think you killed him.
eg. I think you kill him.
jack said:
What do you mean "correct it"?
If you change the word, you'll change the meaning.jack said:
Yes. No matter what. :wink:
jack said:Both of these are correct? But not the one above?
eg. I think you killed him.
eg. I think you kill him.
The second one is incorrect.
What about here?
1. I don't think you would want to pay for it if it is expensive? (So this is wrong right?)
2. I don't think you'd want to pay for it if it were over $500.00. ('were' is correct here? Why it isn't 'was'?
Yes. It matters. Use: If ... were... , ... would.... (Subjunctive)
Why is it that? Is it just a rule? Also, could you tell me what does 'subjunctive' mean? Thanks. I looked that word up up and it said something about a verb which is not yet a fact and is still contingent. What does that mean?
1. I don't think you would want to pay for it if it is expensive? (So this is wrong right?)
2. I don't think you'd want to pay for it if it were over $500.00. ('were' is correct here? Why it isn't 'was'?
Yes. It matters. Use: If ... were... , ... would.... (Subjunctive)
Why is it that? Is it just a rule? Also, could you tell me what does 'subjunctive' mean? Thanks. I looked that word up up and it said something about a verb which is not yet a fact and is still contingent. What does that mean?
would...were
1. I don't think you would want to pay for it if it were expensive?
2. I don't think you would want to pay for it if it were over $500.00.
The subjunctive is a mood. It describes an event that's imagined, wished or possible. It's no longer active in Modern English. If you search on the Net under subjunctive, you'll find a great deal written about it. With "If", the subjunctive takes the form 'were...would' or 'would...were':
EX: If it were expensive (I'm guessing/imagining that it is expensive), I don't think you would want to pay for it.
EX: I don't think you would want to pay for it if it were expensive.
1. I don't think you would want to pay for it if it were expensive?
2. I don't think you would want to pay for it if it were over $500.00.
jack said:
The subjunctive is a mood. It describes an event that's imagined, wished or possible. It's no longer active in Modern English. If you search on the Net under subjunctive, you'll find a great deal written about it. With "If", the subjunctive takes the form 'were...would' or 'would...were':
EX: If it were expensive (I'm guessing/imagining that it is expensive), I don't think you would want to pay for it.
EX: I don't think you would want to pay for it if it were expensive.
jack said:
There are two "were" verbs: 1) the plural past tense "were" and 2) the subjunctive "were", which is regular in all persons and numbers:
Subjunctive
I were
You were
S/he were
It were
They were
Past Tense BE
I was
You were
S/he was
It was
They were
Speakers these days are starting to use the BE "was/were" paradigm in place of the subjunctive "were" paradigm. The subjunctive is dying, so speakers rarely hear it anymore. When they are faced with, "If I ___ ...", speakers often use 'was' instead of 'were', but 'were' is the correct form tradidtionally.
- Status