will vs would

sulabh · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 10:24 am Post subject: will vs would

If the corporate bureaucracy persists in its discriminatory hiring and job advancement practices, its chief executives will expose themselves to class-action litigation by the groups prejudiced thereby.
A. its chief executives will expose themselves
B. its chief executives would expose themselves
C. their chief executives will expose themselves
D. its chief executives themselves would become exposed
E. the chief executives will, by themselves, be exposed
(OA is A)

loki.gmat · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:31 am Post subject:

we require a simple future tense here.
hence eliminate B n D.

corporate bureaucracy is singular. "their" in D is incorrect.

E is passive voice n hence incorrect.

A is active voice n hence IMO A.

Thanks!

Stuart Kovinsky · Posted: Sat Jun 07, 2008 11:37 am Post subject:

We only use "would" if the sentence is written in the subjunctive voice.

In the subjunctive, we describe situations contrary to reality, we don't simply say what WILL happen in the future.

Such sentences are always in the form:

"If X were to happen, then Y would happen."

The terms can also be reversed:

"Y would happen if X were to happen."

Some examples:

If I were rich, I would buy a golden bathtub.

The U.S. would be a better place to live if it were to adopt universal health care.

Stacey Koprince · Posted: Wed Aug 20, 2008 9:55 am Post subject:

A poster sent me the below PM with a link to this problem: