Tense for Answering Hypothetical Questions

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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)

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

Turkey

Senior Member (2,579)

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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

Montreal, Canada

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

Pennsylvania, USA

Veteran Member (16,101)

Barbara, who answers in American English.

Tenses

Marius Hancu

#338575 Tue, 13 Mar 07 03:13 AM

Good point, GG. That sentence seemed strange to me too.

Marius Hancu

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 (17,794)

"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. Smile [:)]

Kooyeen

Joined on Thu, Dec 22 2005

Italy

Senior Member (4,073)

If you don't have a sense of humor already, it's about time you buy one.

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

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