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Meteormage Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Which is the grammatically correct sentence?

Hi all. English isn't my first language so please spare me from too much of technical jargon, thanks!

Assuming that this is a hypothetical scenario...

1. 31% would be people who didn't want to be employed.

2. 31% would be people who don't want to be employed.

Is 1 or 2 correct? From what I have read online, hypothetical situations are often written in the past tense(would, could etc) but if sentence 1 were to be correct, wouldn't it also sound like I am referring to a past statistic?

Thanks!
  

Top answer

Both are possible, depending on context. In a "timeless" hypothetical situation, (1) would normally be used. This is not really "past tense", more "unreal tense".

— GPY

  • Both are possible, depending on context.
  • In a "timeless" hypothetical situation, (1) would normally be used.
  • This is not really "past tense", more "unreal tense".
  • However, (2) could be used if the hypothetical situation is visualised as occurring in the present or future; for example: Holding workshops would be a waste of time, since 90% of those attending would be people who don't want to be employed .
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1 Answers
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Both are possible, depending on context. In a "timeless" hypothetical situation, (1) would normally be used. This is not really "past tense", more "unreal tense". However, (2) could be used if the hypothetical situation is visualised as occurring in the present or future; for example:

Holding workshops would be a waste of time, since 90% of those attending would be people who don't wan
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