http://www.englishforums.com/English/EslGeneralEnglishGrammar-Questions/Forum12.htmAsk your questions on grammar and get your sentence checked. We answer lots of different types of general English grammar questions here. <font color=red>DO NOT post paragraphs and compositions here. Post them in our <a href="http://www.englishforums.com/English/EssayReportCompositionWriting/Forum9.htm"><b>Essay, Report and Composition Writing Forum</b></a>.</font>enXMOD (Build: 3607.32596)http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/2/vrxww/Post.htm#341146Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:341146CalifJim0http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/2/vrxww/Post.htm#341146http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-341146.xmlSurely you've worked out the answer to that by now! ... they would welcome him ... if ... he were to be discharged. ... they would ... if (and when) he were to be discharged. But: They said that they would welcome him when he was discharged. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/2/vrxww/Post.htm#341093Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:341093Marius Hancu1http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/2/vrxww/Post.htm#341093http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-341093.xmlCalifJim wrote: *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. OK, but how about this one? Hinckleys' Mission - New York Times Furthermore, the Hinckleys said they would welcome John back into their home if and when he were to be discharged. Working through this guilt may take quite ...http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#341087Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:341087Grammar Geek2http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#341087http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-341087.xmlYou 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#341046Sat, 23 May 2009 12:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:341046Kooyeen3http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#341046http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-341046.xmlHi 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#341038Fri, 23 Jan 2009 13:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:341038jack1124http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#341038http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-341038.xmlI 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338651Sat, 23 May 2009 12:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:338651CalifJim5http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338651http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-338651.xml*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. CJhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338575Mon, 23 Mar 2009 13:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:338575Marius Hancu6http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338575http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-338575.xmlGood point, GG. That sentence seemed strange to me too.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338571Thu, 23 Apr 2009 12:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:338571Grammar Geek7http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338571http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-338571.xmlI 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.")http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338395Sat, 23 May 2009 12:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:338395Marius Hancu8http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338395http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-338395.xml2. 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338351Sat, 23 May 2009 12:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:338351Doll9http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htm#338351http://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-338351.xmlIf 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.http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htmFri, 23 Jan 2009 13:29:16 GMT946f00bb-57d3-4b7b-a9a2-059b5341af52:338274jack11210http://www.englishforums.com/English/TenseAnsweringHypothetical-Questions/vrxww/post.htmhttp://www.englishforums.com/English/comments12-338274.xmlThis 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.