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Jack112 Posted 19 years ago
Grammar

Tense for Answering Hypothetical Questions

This is the hypothetical question:
How would you handle an argumentative customer?

Since it is an imaginary question, do I have to answer in all past tense to make it imaginary or present tense is fine too?
1. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he is calm, I can work something out with him.
2. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he was calm, I could work something out with him.
  

Top answer

If you want to say something imanigary you had better follow the tense sequence. 2. I would get the customer to remain calm first.

— Doll

  • If you want to say something imanigary you had better follow the tense sequence.
  • 2.
  • I would get the customer to remain calm first.
  • After this sentence if you dont want to continue with imaginary answer you can use other tenses.
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10 Answers
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If you want to say something imanigary you had better follow the tense sequence.

2. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he was calm, I could work something out with him.After this sentence if you dont want to continue with imaginary answer you can use other tenses.
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2. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he was/were calm, I could work something out with him.

were is the more formal alternative.
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I know this isn't the point, but if the customer is argumentative, you don't GET him to REMAIN calm.

First I would try to get him to calm down. (Of course, the person asking the question really wants to know HOW you will get the person to calm down, not just that you would "get the person to calm down.")
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Good point, GG. That sentence seemed strange to me too.
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*Once he were calm won't work at all, I'm afraid.
The subordinating conjunctions of time (once, as soon as, when, before, after) don't take the subjunctive.

CJ
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0 I can also use present imaginary for the reply as well right?02br
02br
001. I 01b00will 02b00try to get the customer to remain calm first. Once he 01b00is 02b00calm, I 01b00can 02b00work something out with him. 0-
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0 Hi Jack,01blockquote
01cite10Jack11212cite101. I 11b10will 12b10try to get the customer to remain calm first. Once he 11b10is 12b10calm, I 11b10can 12b10work something out with him.12blockquote
10I wouldn't use "will" in that context, but maybe it's ok, I don't k
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0You have the same problem: You are getting someone to remain calm... but you have already been told he is upset. You mean that you would get him calm, but not REMAIN calm. You can't "remain" something if you are not that something to start with.0-
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0 01blockquote
01cite10CalifJim12cite11i10*Once he were calm12i10 won't work at all, I'm afraid.12br
10 The subordinating conjunctions of time (11i10once, as soon as, when, before, after12i10) don't take the subjunctive.12br
12blockquote
10OK, but how about this one? 0
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0 Surely you've worked out the answer to that by now!02br
02br
00 ... they would welcome him ... 01b00if02b00 ... he were to be discharged.02br
00 ... they would ... 01b00if02b00 (and when) he were to be discharged.02br
02br
00 But:02br
02br
00 They said that they would welc
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