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While reading a newspaper, I found this sentence

  1. Even if an argument is put forward that many of today's excesses do not reflect long term reality, It is difficult to believe that the situation would return to the previous normal. (source)

I learnt that would is used in hypothetical sentences. What is the hypothetical situation here?? What happens if we use will instead of would here??

For example:

  1. Even if an argument is put forward that many of today's excesses do not reflect long term reality, It is difficult to believe that the situation will return to the previous normal.

So what is the difference between these two sentences???

Ramteja Guthikonda
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    In 1, 'would' invites you to imagine all the hypothetical worlds in which the situation could return to normal, but in 2, 'will' emphasizes the expection that the situation is going to return to normal in the real world. – Kinzle B Apr 07 '21 at 16:36
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    Does this answer your question? "I don't think he will leave" vs. "I don't think he would leave" – ColleenV Apr 07 '21 at 16:41
  • @ColleenV Sorry, I have seen that already. Eventhough my doubt is similar, I couldn't understand those answers. That's why I posted this new query :) – Ramteja Guthikonda Apr 07 '21 at 17:16
  • Which newspaper? Please cite (and ideally link) your sources. I've added a link to show how it can be done. – James K Apr 07 '21 at 17:48
  • The real problem is that you've only quoted half a sentence. At least quote the whole thing: "Even if an argument is put forward that many of today’s excesses do not reflect long-term reality, it is difficult to believe that the situation would return to the previous normal. " – James K Apr 07 '21 at 17:51
  • If the answers of the suggested duplicate are not helpful, you should edit your question to explain why they didn't help you, or what you don't understand about them. – ColleenV Apr 07 '21 at 17:51
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    @JamesK It's from an Indian newspaper called "The Hindu". The article is only for subscribers. Otherwise I would have provided the link. And thank you for suggesting me to add the entire sentence. I edited it now – Ramteja Guthikonda Apr 07 '21 at 18:01
  • @JamesK So by any chance "Even if an argument is put forward that many of today's excesses do not reflect long term reality" is the imagined hypothetical situation??? – Ramteja Guthikonda Apr 07 '21 at 18:06
  • [suggest x to me, not suggest me x] – Lambie Apr 07 '21 at 18:10
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    I think the original sentence should have been written maybe as "Even if an argument WERE put forward that many of today's excesses do not reflect long term reality, It is difficult to believe that the situation would return to the previous normal." I think the mood is the "future unreal conditional". The use of "will" is not appropriate as it doesn't convey the unreality of the situation the reader is attempting to convey. – rocket_boomerang_19 Apr 08 '21 at 03:54
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    @rocket_boomerang_19 If "WERE" is used and made it hypothetical, Doesn't it become " It WOULD BE difficult for me that the situation would return to the previous normal" ? – Ramteja Guthikonda Apr 08 '21 at 04:03
  • yeah. that also. correct – rocket_boomerang_19 Apr 08 '21 at 04:10

2 Answers2

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It is difficult to believe that the situation would return to the previous normal.

It may be that the rules for Indian English are different, but I (UK English) can't think of any justification for using is in the main clause and would in the that-clause.

If you were to say that it is talking about a hypothetical situation predicated on the first part of the sentence, you would have to use would be instead of is. The complete sentence would be:

Even if an argument were put forward that many of today's excesses do not reflect long term reality, It would be difficult to believe that the situation will return to the previous normal.

JavaLatte
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-1

One's past tense:

It WAS difficult to believe it WOULD return to normal

You should add WAS there.

The other's future tense and is grammatically correct.

EDIT: Also, it's learned, not learnt. It just bugs me.

CubicMathTime
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  • Learnt is perfectly acceptable in the UK. Please do your research before stating your opinions. https://dictionary.cambridge.org/dictionary/english/learn https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/learnt – JavaLatte Jul 13 '22 at 02:32