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Pleasehelp Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Possibility vs certainty

Hi,

I was hoping you could play so we would be the best team.

Is the sentence above past tense? How do you change it to the present tense or a situation that might occur in the future but at the same time have it more as a possibility than 100% certainty?

I'm hoping you could play so we would be the best team. - correct?
or
I'm hoping you can play so we would be the best team. - please help.
  

Top answer

Yes, the first sentence is in the past tense ("was" tells you that). The present tense version you want is a variation of #2: I'm hoping you can play so we will be the best team. ") In the future: I am hoping you will be able to play so that we will have the best team.

— Doctor D

  • Yes, the first sentence is in the past tense ("was" tells you that).
  • The present tense version you want is a variation of #2: I'm hoping you can play so we will be the best team.
  • ") In the future: I am hoping you will be able to play so that we will have the best team.
  • Or: I hope you will be able to play so that we will have the best team.
  • ) Is this clear?
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1 Answers
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Yes, the first sentence is in the past tense ("was" tells you that).

The present tense version you want is a variation of #2: I'm hoping you can play so we will be the best team. ("will" rather than "would.")

In the future: I am hoping you will be able to play so that we will have the best team.
Or: I hope you will be able to play so
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