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Which word is correct, will or would?I thought I would talk to about the topic I 'will or would' be presenting.

Xerxes · Accepted Answer

Go with "would".

AnonymousI thought I would talk to about the topic I would be presenting.

Anonymous · Answer

XerxesGo with "would".AnonymousI thought I would talk to about the topic I would be presenting.

Thanks. But is 'will' wrong, because I will definitely be presenting it soon?

GPY · Answer

Something has gone wrong with the sentence. Perhaps you meant this:

I thought I would talk to you/him/etc. about the topic I will/would be presenting.

Use "will" if the presentation is still in the future. Use "would" if the presentation has already happened (you are recounting past events). You might also use "would" if the presentation is in the future but is tentative or contingent on something else happening.

Anonymous · Answer

GPYSomething has gone wrong with the sentence. Perhaps you meant this:I thought I would talk to you/him/etc. about the topic I will/would be presenting.Use "will" if the presentation is still in the future. Use "would" if the presentation has already happened (you are recounting past events). You might also use "would" if the presentation is in the future but is tentative or contingent on something else happening.

Thanks a lot, GPY. Yes, I missed the 'you' in the sentence.

The presentation is still in the future, so I guess I should use 'will'.

I thought that 'would' imply the future and might
be correct, and have the same meaning as 'will', because of back-shifting, and that was why I was confused?

But from your explanation, it seems that the use of 'would' is not the case of back shifting and would have a difference meaning than 'will'. Would that be correct?

Xerxes · Answer

Anon,

GYP has provided a more nuanced reply. Yes, indeed, if the presentation is in the future, it will be better to use "will". But... I often hear people say:
"Don't worry about filling out this form. He said he will do it for you."

Personally, I don't much like this kind of construction. To me, there really is back shifting going on. I'd personally be inclined to say "He said he would do it for you", even if the act of his filling out the form is, at the moment the words are spoken, still in the future. But that's just Xerxes's opinion.

GPY · Answer

AnonymousBut from your explanation, it seems that the use of 'would' is not the case of back shifting and would have a difference meaning than 'will'. Would that be correct?

For me, the "will be presenting" part is too far removed from the reporting verb "thought" to be backshifted.

XerxesI'd personally be inclined to say "He said he would do it for you", even if the act of his filling out the form is, at the moment the words are spoken, still in the future

I agree in this case.

Anonymous · Answer

GPYFor me, the "will be presenting" part is too far removed from the reporting verb "thought" to be backshifted.

Do you mean by the "will be presenting" part is too far that it is in at the end of the sentence and the reporting verb 'thought' is at the beginning, which makes it far, or id did you mean something else that I did not understand?

Also, would it be correct to back-shift here as well, with the meaning still being in future such as the use of 'will', but you prefer not not in this case?

Thanks.

GPY · Answer

AnonymousDo you mean by the "will be presenting" part is too far that it is in at the end of the sentence and the reporting verb 'thought' is at the beginning, which makes it far, or id did you mean something else that I did not understand?

It is not governed directly by the verb "thought".

AnonymousAlso, would it be correct to back-shift here as well, with the meaning still being in future such as the use of 'will', but you prefer not not in this case?

I wouldn't -- and to me it actually sounds wrong for something that will definitely happen in the future -- but there may be other opinions.

Anonymous · Answer

GPYIt is not governed directly by the verb "thought".

What do you mean by that? Would you please tell me what you meant by the 'will be presenting' part is too far removed from the reporting verb. Is it what I had explained or is it the fact that the connection between the 'thought' and 'will' are too far apart?

GPYI wouldn't -- and to me it actually sounds wrong for something that will definitely happen in the future -- but there may be other opinions.

MM. Is this what you think of this specific sentence example, whereas there may be other sentences that it work in?

For example: I said I would be taking the exam next week; I though you said you would be presenting next week; or I said I would pick/would be picking you up in an hour.

These examples sound like they will definitely happen in the future. Do you agree with these?

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