Would be

Question

When a police officer arrests someone they then have a process to follow - under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act - that includes taking the individual to a police station, where among other things, the custody sergeant must be convinced that the arrest is justified.

Prof Waddington suggests that one option for the government would be to suspend elements of the act in order to free up officers and get them back on the streets.

..............

As you read in the above 'one option for the government would be to suspend elements of the act in order to free up officers and get them back on the streets'.

Why should it be the words 'would be' here?

I would write 'is' instead of 'would be' here.

I train 3 times a week. When I go to the gym I have several options.

1.One option for me is circuit training. [This is my favorite. I have trained 100 minutes this evening.]

2.One option for me is aerobics. [ I don't like it because it is mainly for girls.]

3.One option for me is spinning. [ It is pure cycling using specially made bikes. I don't like it.]

I wouldn't write ' would be' in any of the above sentences. I would always write 'is' in the above sentences.

Clive · Accepted Answer

Hi,

I wouldn't say that 'is' is wrong. But I feel the use of 'would be' stresses that this is just a suggestion about what might possibly become an option if the govenment agrees with the idea. It's hypothetical.

In contrast, your options at your gym seem very real and available. There seems to be nothing at all hypothetical about them.

Clive

Anonymous · Answer

The words "would be" are what is called the conditional in English. The conditional is like the subjunctive in other languages (the pure subjunctive is now rare in English). The conditional is a way of showing that the statement is not absolute, that there might be other considerations involved. Note in this sentence that the person making the statement is a professor, someone who would typically not be given to making hard and fast statements. Note also the words "suggests (not demands or insists or proclaims)," "one option (there may be numerous other alternatives)," "suspend (rather than permanently do away with)," and "elements of (just certain portions of the act, not the entire act)." All of these words imply that there are other considerations that may come into play and that the statement is not an absolute declaration of fact. In such a situation the conditional is what is used, "would be," rather than "is ( which would indicate an absolute declaration of fact)."

In your example of the gym, what you presented is correct. You listed all of the three options for you, and the verb "is" is correct here, since all of the options are clearly stated. However, if the statement was instead:

I train 3 times a week. When I go to the gym, one option for me would be circuit training.--the other two options have not been stated and so "would be" indicates that there are other possibilities. You could conceivably say "is" here, but it sounds forced, since you're making what seems like a statement of hard fact when you used the word "option." The word "option" usually demands a kind of muting of the statement, which is inherent in the conditional.

Rotter · Answer

Thanks Clive

So there is an element of hypothetical nature in the given context.

..................................

"They deter officers [from making arrests] as you have to leave your colleagues fighting the battle when you know that the offences that they're likely to be charged with are relatively minor. You'll spend hours out of operation."

But Prof Waddington concedes that the government would be reluctant to make such a move as it would indicate "a serious state of emergency".

..................................................

Even in the above you will read the words ' that the government would be reluctant to make such a move as it would indicate "a serious state of emergency

Why should it be ' that the government would be ...?

I would write 'will be' here.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

So there is an element of hypothetical nature in the given context.

..

"They deter officers [from making arrests] as you have to leave your colleagues fighting the battle when you know that the offences that they're likely to be charged with are relatively minor. You'll spend hours out of operation."

But Prof Waddington concedes that the government would be reluctant to make such a move as it would indicate "a serious state of emergency".

..................

Even in the above you will read the words ' that the government would be reluctant to make such a move as it would indicate "a serious state of emergency

Why should it be ' that the government would be ...?

I would write 'will be' here. It's all still very hypothetical. eg If the government were to seriously consider it, which is far from certain, . . . they would be reluctant to . . . '

Clive

Would be

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions