jack112  +  338274 Mon, 12 Mar 07 05:51 AM This is the hypothetical question: How would you handle an argumentative customer? Since it is an imaginary question, do I have to answer in all past tense to make it imaginary or present tense is fine too? 1. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he is calm, I can work something out with him. 2. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he was calm, I could work something out with him. jack112 Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004 Regular Member 715 Tenses, Present Tenses, Past Tenses

	Doll  +  338351 Mon, 12 Mar 07 11:48 AM If you want to say something imanigary you had better follow the tense sequence.     2. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he was calm, I could work something out with him.After this sentence if you dont want to continue with imaginary answer you can use other tenses. Doll Joined on Sat, Mar 10 2007 Senior Member 2,806 Tenses

	Marius Hancu  +  338395 Mon, 12 Mar 07 02:46 PM 2. I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he was/were calm, I could work something out with him. were is the more formal alternative. Marius Hancu Joined on Wed, Apr 26 2006 Veteran Member 11,673 Tenses

	Grammar Geek  +  338571 Tue, 13 Mar 07 02:38 AM I know this isn't the point, but if the customer is argumentative, you don't GET him to REMAIN calm. First I would try to get him to calm down. (Of course, the person asking the question really wants to know HOW you will get the person to calm down, not just that you would "get the person to calm down.") Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,508 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random! Tenses

	CalifJim  +  338651 Tue, 13 Mar 07 08:17 AM *Once he were calm won't work at all, I'm afraid. The subordinating conjunctions of time (once, as soon as, when, before, after) don't take the subjunctive. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,128 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche Tenses, Subjunctives

	jack112  +  341038 Mon, 19 Mar 07 10:20 PM I can also use present imaginary for the reply as well right? 1. I will try to get the customer to remain calm first. Once he is calm, I can work something out with him. jack112 Tenses

	Kooyeen  +  341046 Mon, 19 Mar 07 10:46 PM Hi Jack,  Jack112 wrote: 1. I will try to get the customer to remain calm first. Once he is calm, I can work something out with him. I wouldn't use "will" in that context, but maybe it's ok, I don't know, it's just my opinion. As for I would get the customer to remain calm first. Once he is/was/were calm, I can work something out with him. I would say "is" is the only thing that sounds right to me, but maybe I'm wrong, I don't know. It seems CalifJim thinks the same, but I'm not quite sure. Kooyeen Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005 Italy Senior Member 4,936 Parental Advisory / Explicit Posts Tenses

	Grammar Geek  +  341087 Tue, 20 Mar 07 12:44 AM You have the same problem: You are getting someone to remain calm... but you have already been told he is upset. You mean that you would get him calm, but not REMAIN calm. You can't "remain" something if you are not that something to start with. Grammar Geek Tenses