jack112  +  129675 Mon, 22 Aug 05 07:34 PM Scenario: I'm thinking about telling my family something over the dinner table. But I'm not sure and my sister says: Is #2 the best one to use? 1. Think about what they would think if you said this over the dinner table. 2. Think about what they would think if you say this over the dinner table. (What kind of 'would' do I have here? Modal 'would' for likely?) 3. Think about what they will think if you say this over the dinner table. 4. Think about what they will probably think if you say this over the dinner table. (So #4 is expressing their ideas, and #2 is asking for their opinions?) Thanks. jack112 Joined on Thu, Jul 22 2004 Regular Member 715 Modals

	davkett  +  129686 Mon, 22 Aug 05 08:12 PM How about this example?-- Think about what they might think if you say this [over dinner/at the dinner table].  Or, Think about what they might say if you say this at the dinner table. (It doesn't sound quite right to say, 'over the dinner table'; better to say, 'over dinner', or 'at the dinner table'.)       davkett Joined on Tue, Jun 7 2005 Pennsylvania, USA Senior Member 2,788 "The rose stays fresh in its name..." -Bernard of Morlay

	jack112  +  129703 Mon, 22 Aug 05 09:38 PM 2. Think about what they would think if you say this over the dinner table.  ( I hear people use 'would' a lot everywhere. This sentence can't be wrong, can it? 'Would' is not a modal here?) Thanks. jack112 Modals

	davkett  +  129711 Mon, 22 Aug 05 10:32 PM How does anyone know what somebody else will think, or say?  'Would probably' translates easily into 'might'. davkett

	CalifJim  +  129803 Tue, 23 Aug 05 05:11 AM I wouldn't call it wrong, but it's not the most standard form. ... what they will think if you say ... ... what they would think if you said ... These are the more standard uses. CJ CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,391 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche