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Jooney Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
Conditional
Hi,
In a nationwide survey conducted in 2001 by the National Marriage Project, then at Rutgers and now at the University of Virginia, nearly half of 20-somethings agreed with the statement, “You would only marry someone if he or she agreed to live together with you first, so that you could find out whether you really get along.” About two-thirds said they believed that moving in together before marriage was a good way to avoid divorce.
It's unclear to me why the conditional posits a hypothetical situation that is unlikely to happen. The if-clause says, "It's not likely that he or she will agree to live together with you first, but only if he/she does, you will marry someone."
My question is why you take it for granted that the chance of the event happening is slim. Isn't it more appropriate to say, "You will only marry someone if he or she agrees to live together with you first, so that you can find out whether you really get along."
I'd appreciate your answer.
In a nationwide survey conducted in 2001 by the National Marriage Project, then at Rutgers and now at the University of Virginia, nearly half of 20-somethings agreed with the statement, “You would only marry someone if he or she agreed to live together with you first, so that you could find out whether you really get along.” About two-thirds said they believed that moving in together before marriage was a good way to avoid divorce.
It's unclear to me why the conditional posits a hypothetical situation that is unlikely to happen. The if-clause says, "It's not likely that he or she will agree to live together with you first, but only if he/she does, you will marry someone."
My question is why you take it for granted that the chance of the event happening is slim. Isn't it more appropriate to say, "You will only marry someone if he or she agrees to live together with you first, so that you can find out whether you really get along."
I'd appreciate your answer.
Top answer
jooney My question is why you take it for granted that the chance of the event happening is slim. This is not a safe assumption. Whether the probability of such an event happening is high or low is not as relevant as the fact that this was a survey question.
- jooney My question is why you take it for granted that the chance of the event happening is slim.
- This is not a safe assumption.
- Whether the probability of such an event happening is high or low is not as relevant as the fact that this was a survey question.
- In surveys we pose questions about hypothetical situations to elicit opinions from those polled, whether those responding to the survey are personally in the situation described or not.
- ) will is generally reserved for situations presently at hand, truly about to happen, at least potentially.
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6 Answers
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jooneyMy question is why you take it for granted that the chance of the event happening is slim.This is not a safe assumption. Whether the probability of such an event happening is high or low is not as relevant as the fact that this was a survey question. In surveys we pose questions about hypothetical situations to elicit opinions from those polled, wheth
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"You will only marry someone if he or she agrees to live together with you first
Crikey. This means that as soon as the girl fulfils her part of this contract, and agrees to live with me, I have promised that I will then, ipso facto, marry her after some unspecified number of weeks! (emoticon for YIKES!)
Crikey. This means that as soon as the girl fulfils her part of this contract, and agrees to live with me, I have promised that I will then, ipso facto, marry her after some unspecified number of weeks! (emoticon for YIKES!)
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I think the concept of a hypothetical situation is a little elusive. Most grammar books don't give detailed accounts of what situations should be considered hypothetical. Maybe it's just me.
I think I can see now why the past forms were appropriate in that situation. Thank you very much for your help, CJ.
I think I can see now why the past forms were appropriate in that situation. Thank you very much for your help, CJ.
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jooneyI think the concept of a hypothetical situation is a little elusive.That's correct. It is elusive. It's like its counterpart 'immediacy' (in its sense as an antonym for 'hypothetical'). It's difficult to know how 'immediate' a situation is. It often involves speaker judgment, so the grammar books can't say anything very definitive about it.
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I find that many more learners of English tend to judge situations as immediate (real) when native speakers consider them remote (hypothetical) than the other way around.
I think that's very true.
I think that's very true.
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