Usage of "would" for "imagined situation"

[supratim7]

(A) Though I understand the use of "would" for past tense of "will" and for conditionals (if.. then.), I am unable to grasp the concept of using "would" for "imagined situation", especially WRT using "will".

This concept has been highlighted but not explained in Foundations of GMAT Verbal, Page# 309
Six of us would be attending the conference. Incorrect
Six of us will be attending the conference. Correct

(B) What is the difference between "Six of us will attend the conference" and "Six of us will be attending the conference"?

Many thanks

[dawn_s_99]

This concept has been highlighted but not explained in Foundations of GMAT Verbal, Page# 309
Six of us would be attending the conference. Incorrect
Six of us will be attending the conference. Correct

You may have more luck getting your question answered if you post the entire problem.

(B) What is the difference between "Six of us will attend the conference" and "Six of us will be attending the conference"?

This is simple future vs. simple future progressive. Simple future usually expresses an event that begins and ends. The future progressive usually expresses the idea of one action (usually in the simple present) interrupting an action that was already in progress.

If the entire question/problem/context were laid out for the person attempting to answer your questions, you would probably get better answers. (Note the use of were and would. This is called the second conditional. I suggest you review conditionals if they are not explained in your book.)

[supratim7]

Thank you.

You may have more luck getting your question answered if you post the entire problem.

There is no "problem" for me to post/cite.
I am just looking for some guideline/examples in order to get a grip on usage of "would", WRT "will", for "imagined situations".

This is simple future vs. simple future progressive. Simple future usually expresses an event that begins and ends. The future progressive usually expresses the idea of one action (usually in the simple present) interrupting an action that was already in progress.

I am not really sure about this. Will wait for MGMAT Staffs. Thanks though.

If the entire question/problem/context were laid out for the person attempting to answer your questions, you would probably get better answers. (Note the use of were and would. This is called the second conditional. I suggest you review conditionals if they are not explained in your book.)

I have already mentioned that I am fine with usage of "would" for conditionals (if.. then.).

[tim]

Thanks Dawn. Supratim, please let us know if you have any questions Dawn didn't answer already..

[supratim7]

Of course I do Tim, here they are

(A) Though I understand the use of "would" for past tense of "will" and for conditionals (if.. then.), I am unable to grasp the concept of using "would" for "imagined situation", especially WRT using "will".

(B) What is the difference between "Six of us will attend the conference" and "Six of us will be attending the conference"?

Many thanks.

[tim]

i'm pretty sure Dawn answered your second question. as for your first question, the example you quoted from the book seems to answer that one. is there something about Dawn's answer or the book's answer that you didn't understand?

[Willy]

(A) Though I understand the use of "would" for past tense of "will" and for conditionals (if.. then.), I am unable to grasp the concept of using "would" for "imagined situation", especially WRT using "will".

This concept has been highlighted but not explained in Foundations of GMAT Verbal, Page# 309
Six of us would be attending the conference. Incorrect
Six of us will be attending the conference. Correct

(B) What is the difference between "Six of us will attend the conference" and "Six of us will be attending the conference"?

Many thanks

The difference b/w these two is

In sentence "Six of us will attend the conference", attending the conference is one time event. i.e Six of us will attend it once.

But in sentence "Six of us will be attending the conference", attending the conference is NOT one time event, i.e. six of us will be attending it more than once.

I think I'm right, experts please?

[RonPurewal]

In sentence "Six of us will attend the conference", attending the conference is one time event. i.e Six of us will attend it once.

But in sentence "Six of us will be attending the conference", attending the conference is NOT one time event, i.e. six of us will be attending it more than once.

I think I'm right, experts please?

no.

the meanings of "will attend" and "will be attending" are not very different, and neither of them implies a repeated action.

MOST IMPORTANTLY
there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that the difference between "will ____" and "will be ____ing" will be tested on the gmat exam.
so, everything below the following line should be considered "enrichment" -- you won't have to know it on test day, but it's nice to know in general.

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the difference between these two constructions lies in how the speaker/writer perceives the future event.

"will _____" implies that the future event is being considered as a "point" on a continuous timeline. i.e., it's just something that will happen in the future.

"will be _____ing", on the other hand, emphasizes that this event/action will be going on at some specific juncture in the future -- usually because there is some reference to another event that will happen in the same timeframe.

e.g.
We will drive to the airport.
--> this is a thing that's going to happen; the actual procedure of driving is not emphasized.

Can you guys pick me up at the station at nine?
-- No, we will be driving to the airport.
--> the point here is that "will be driving" is actually going to be happening when the other person is at the station. in other words, this isn't just viewed as a point on a timeline; it's actually something that's going to be underway when something else occurs.

[Willy]

In sentence "Six of us will attend the conference", attending the conference is one time event. i.e Six of us will attend it once.

But in sentence "Six of us will be attending the conference", attending the conference is NOT one time event, i.e. six of us will be attending it more than once.

I think I'm right, experts please?

no.

the meanings of "will attend" and "will be attending" are not very different, and neither of them implies a repeated action.

MOST IMPORTANTLY
there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY that the difference between "will ____" and "will be ____ing" will be tested on the gmat exam.
so, everything below the following line should be considered "enrichment" -- you won't have to know it on test day, but it's nice to know in general.

--------------------------------------------

the difference between these two constructions lies in how the speaker/writer perceives the future event.

"will _____" implies that the future event is being considered as a "point" on a continuous timeline. i.e., it's just something that will happen in the future.

"will be _____ing", on the other hand, emphasizes that this event/action will be going on at some specific juncture in the future -- usually because there is some reference to another event that will happen in the same timeframe.

e.g.
We will drive to the airport.
--> this is a thing that's going to happen; the actual procedure of driving is not emphasized.

Can you guys pick me up at the station at nine?
-- No, we will be driving to the airport.
--> the point here is that "will be driving" is actually going to be happening when the other person is at the station. in other words, this isn't just viewed as a point on a timeline; it's actually something that's going to be underway when something else occurs.

Thank you Ron, it was really helpful.

[supratim7]

Thank you Ron for the reply. Great examples/illustrations. Appreciate it.

Many thanks | Supratim

[tim]

:)

[sachin.w]

I have never come across any GMAT Question that tests on the usage of 'could' unlike 'would' that is very frequently tested.

Could Ron or Tim, please confirm if we can safely avoid adding one more arsenal ( usage of could) in our kitty against SC?

[tim]

in general, if you haven't seen a particular thing being tested on practice questions, you can probably ignore it. sometimes i wish more people on the forum would save themselves a bunch of time and effort by concentrating on things that are actually tested.. :)