conditional

Share on Facebook

Diamondrg

#391234 Thu, 12 Jul 07 12:52 PM

1. If you could let us know your decision as soon as possible, it would be a great help.

2. If you can let us know your decision as soon as possible, it will be a great help.

What is the difference between the two? Does 1 refer to an imaginary situation while 2 refers to an actual one?

Joined on Fri, Dec 2 2005

Turkey

Contributing Member (1,041)

Brunate

#391241 Thu, 12 Jul 07 01:13 PM

I think that you could/can use either can or could. However, we would say "it would be OF great help".

Joined on Sat, Jun 30 2007

Ilkley

Junior Member (63)

Marius Hancu

#391245 Thu, 12 Jul 07 01:22 PM

The first one is more polite: distancing via the conditional.

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)