BREAKING: Target Test Prep releases Brand New 2026 On Demand GMAT prep course

Redeem
TTP OnDemand GMAT Video Course
Featured Course

Target Test Prep GMAT OnDemand

Scott Woodbury-Stewart’s private virtual classroom — 400 hours of master-class video lessons for the GMAT Focus Edition.

  • 715+ score guarantee — highest in the industry (99th percentile)
  • 52 chapters · 1,500+ lessons · 4,000+ practice questions
  • 400 hours of video · 1,500+ instructor-led HD smartboard lessons
  • 300,000+ students accepted to Harvard, Stanford, Wharton, Booth & Sloan & more
  • 24/7 live support + weekly Zoom office hours with GMAT instructors
  • TTP AI Assist — 24/7 AI-powered virtual tutor for instant help
  • 1,200+ flashcards + AI-powered study assistant & daily calendar
  • OnDemand, LiveTeach & GMAT Bootcamp formats available
  • Also: GRE, SAT Math & Executive Assessment courses
  • MBA Admissions Consulting now available
  • 🏆 2025 EdTech Breakthrough Award: Test Prep Solution Provider of the Year
  • 200,000+ students served
  • 5-day free trial — $0 to start, no auto-billing, cancel anytime
★★★★★ 5.0 (559 reviews)
130-pt guarantee
$0 to start then $127/mo
Start Free 5-Day Trial Read 559 Reviews →

Will vs. Would; Can vs. Could

Expert replies
Post new topic Locked
Previous Topic Next Topic
Junior | Next Rank: 30 Posts
Posts: 28
Joined: Sat Jul 04, 2009 3:55 am
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
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Source: — Sentence Correction |
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
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 627
Joined: Thu Jun 23, 2011 9:12 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 4 times

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

Regards
Mankey
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
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?
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 amFollowed by: 43 members
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
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
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Master | Next Rank: 500 Posts
Posts: 496
Joined: Tue Jun 07, 2011 5:34 amFollowed by: 1 member
Thanked: 38 times

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
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
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..
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
User avatar
Legendary Member
Posts: 540
Joined: Sat Dec 20, 2008 7:24 pmFollowed by: 6 members
Thanked: 37 times

by navami » Sat Sep 10, 2011 9:42 am
D
This time no looking back!!!
Navami
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Legendary Member
Posts: 2789
Joined: Tue Jul 26, 2011 12:19 amFollowed by: 43 members
Location: Chennai, India
Thanked: 206 times
GMAT Score:640

by GmatKiss » Thu Sep 22, 2011 8:28 am
Please post OA and OE
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
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.
Top
Join the discussion
Log in to postLogin with Googleuse password
QUOTE IN REPLY
Post new topic Locked
• Page 1 of 1