Will vs. Would; Can vs. Could

This topic has expert replies
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:55 am

Will vs. Would; Can vs. Could

by syflysun » Wed Jul 08, 2009 1:45 am
A majority of the international journalists surveyed view nuclear power stations as unsafe at present but that they will, or could, be made sufficiently safe in the future.
(A) that they will, or could,
(B) that they would, or could
(C) they will be or could,
(D) think that they will be or could
(E) think the power stations would or could

Obvious, D is the best. I eliminate E because E omits "that."
My q is Will vs. Would; Can vs. Could.
I am always confused on these pairs.
Any one? Thanks

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Fri Nov 21, 2008 2:18 am
GMAT Score:730

mY doubt

by sillyfool » Wed Jul 08, 2009 2:22 am
I doubt that D is the right answer
as in this sentence
think that they will be or could

they is not clear what it is referring to

Guys please help
The sweat of hard work is not to be displayed. It is much more graceful to appear favored by the gods

Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 am
Thanked: 4 times
Followed by:1 members

by mankey » Thu Sep 08, 2011 7:16 pm
Can some expert help on this particular question. A proper explanation will help.

Regards
Mankey

Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 20
Joined: Tue Aug 02, 2011 7:02 am
Thanked: 2 times

by missionGMATverbal » Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:42 am
This sure is a complex sentence...are you sure this is official question?

Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
Followed by:43 members
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Fri Sep 09, 2011 8:05 am
syflysun wrote:A majority of the international journalists surveyed view nuclear power stations as unsafe at present but that they will, or could, be made sufficiently safe in the future.
(A) that they will, or could,
(B) that they would, or could
(C) they will be or could,
(D) think that they will be or could - redundant with "view"
(E) think the power stations would or could - redundant with "view"

Just my thought on this!
Please correct me if i am wrong.

Also i have seen many experts commenting "would, could, might" are bad choices most of the time, and should be avoided!
Please post the source of this question!

TIA,
GK

User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 496
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:34 am
Thanked: 38 times
Followed by:1 members

by sl750 » Fri Sep 09, 2011 9:17 am
IMO B

This is an example of subjunctive mood - it is expressing doubt
verb surveyed is in the simple past tense, so we cannot use future tense will, which is used if the verb is in the present tense

They logically modifies stations as it would be illogical to suggest that the journalists would be made safe in the future

Newbie | Next Rank: 10 Posts
Posts: 8
Joined: Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:23 pm

by maddy12 » Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:35 pm
can u pls tell me what is the right answer????
'will' seems wrong...'would' seems correct...but without 'think' it doesnt sound right..

User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 540
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:24 pm
Thanked: 37 times
Followed by:6 members

by navami » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:42 am
D
This time no looking back!!!
Navami

Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 am
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
Followed by:43 members
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:28 am
Please post OA and OE

Senior | Next Rank: 100 Posts
Posts: 32
Joined: Sat Jul 01, 2017 5:55 am

by Pratishtha21 » Wed Jul 05, 2017 3:49 am
A verb parallel to view is missing in options A, B and C . So we eliminate these 3 options.

(A) that they will, or could,
(B) that they would, or could
(C) they will be or could,

Now lets take D and E into consideration.

(D) think that they will be or could - Correct. (they refers to nuclear plants). the helping verb 'be' is needed after will and could. D has both so it is alright.

(E) think the power stations would or could - Incorrect. 'that' after power stations is missing. Also we need a verb after would. Also usage of 'would' is wrong.
Would is used to refer to future in past.

One might be confused about what does 'they' refer to in D, but since all other options have major mistakes, we can go ahead with D.