Hypothetical Question

Hi,

Should hypothetical question always be in the simple past tense(present form)?

The reason why I'm asking this question is because I've been hearing some people using present simple present/present prefect & future tense like the example below.      

Eg., "What will you do, if one of your staff has been absenting from work too frequently and doesn't give reasonable excuses"? Is this correct?

On the other-hand to what extend should my answer to a hypothetical question (simple past tense) be in simple past tense?

Appreciate if anyone could comment on these questions, thank you.

Regards,
Jeeva

CalifJim wrote:

The if clause is the antecedent clause, the other clause is the consequent clause. Answer a question in the same tense as the tense of the consequent clause.  This is not usually going to be the simple past. What will you do if ...?  I will .... What would you do if ...?  I would .... What will you do , if one of your staff has been is absenting from work too frequently and doesn't give reasonable excuses"? Is this correct? Yes, as modified.  You can have a clause with will together with an if clause in the present.  This pattern is used when the condition is real; that is, the situation in the if clause is regarded as truly possible, perhaps even likely, in the real world. You can also have a clause with would together with an if clause in the past. What would you do if one of your staff [was / were1] absent from work too frequently and didn't give reasonable excuses? This pattern is used when the condition is unreal; that is, the situation in the if clause is regarded as a possibility to be considered somewhat remotely and abstractly. CJ 1More formal.

Hypothetical questions in job interveiws are very common...so

If you were an interviewer would you use real or an unreal condition? 

Hi, CalifJim.

Is it wrong to write "What would/will you do if one of you staff has been (not 'is absent') from work too frequently and doesn't (or didn't??)  give reasonable excuses?"

I don't think the above sentence is incorrect and believe it is a matter of looking at it from a different time perspective. The present perfect just represents some kind of relevance to the present. 

Thank you, Jim.

I think a similarity can be found with the following sentence for the use of 'will' with 'has been' in the if-clause:

If you are good, I will bring you some presents.

Your sentence's 'has been' shows a relevance to the present so the above Condtional 1 sentence would be similar.    

How about this? 

1. If you were good all year, Santa would bring you lots presents.

I think this would be appropriate if I am talking to someone at the last day of the year. Right?

Thank you for your patience.