Interview Questions & tenses

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Jeevarajah

#392828 Mon, 16 Jul 07 02:37 PM

Hi Group,

What type of tense should I use when answering questions like this "How would you describe the responsibilities involved in this position"?

Is this an hypothetical question?

Please advise, thank you.

Regards,

Jeeva

Jeevarajah

Joined on Mon, Jul 9 2007

New Member (03)

Interviews, Regards, Tenses

Mister Micawber

#392832 Mon, 16 Jul 07 02:59 PM

As it stands-- I presume that the job exists-- I would use simple present:

The reponsibilities involved in this position are:
- Emptying the dustbins
- Mopping the floors
- Dusting the prie-dieux

Mister Micawber

Joined on Wed, Aug 4 2004

Yokohama

Veteran Member (20,420)

'The question is,' said Humpty Dumpty, 'which is to be master-- that's all.'

Interviews, Resume, Simple present

Jeevarajah

#392850 Mon, 16 Jul 07 04:49 PM

Hi,

Can I take that this is not a hypothetical question?

And if so could you please explain the use of "would" in that question.

Regards,

Jeeva

Jeevarajah

Interviews, Regards

Marius Hancu

#392898 Mon, 16 Jul 07 07:28 PM

The question per se isn't hypothetical, IMO. What's hypothetical is what kind of answer you will provide.

Or you could read it as a polite form used instead of will.

Marius Hancu

Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006

Montreal, Canada

Veteran Member (11,673)

Interviews

Mister Micawber

#393001 Tue, 17 Jul 07 12:37 AM

Or you could read it as a polite form used instead of will

I agree with Marius on this suggestion. It is a standard form of courtesy, Jeeva:

How would you describe the responsibilities involved in this position [if you wish to do so]?
What would you like to drink [if you are thirsty and wish to tell me]?