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I was wondering if the first sentence below is an abuse of grammar or if it is, unwittingly, better grammar than the second sentence. The sentences are

1: And now you will say that they are going to see numbers and freak out, and you would obviously be right, but I am just trying to get my point across.

and

2: And now you would say that they are going to see numbers and freak out, and you would obviously be right, but I am just trying to get my point across.

Which one of the above is better grammar?

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    If the only intended difference is that you use will once in #1, but not at all in #2, the answer is you should either use will consistently, or use would consistently. Randomly mixing the two usually doesn't work. I have no opinion as to which verb form you "should" use, so long as you stick to one or the other. May 20, 2023 at 13:55
  • They are both fine. See my answer.
    – Lambie
    May 20, 2023 at 18:11
  • If the "true" meaning of now is in fact then (in that case), which imho is extremely likely, you should probably favour would. May 22, 2023 at 18:48
  • It's not about grammar, it's about intended meanings.
    – Lambie
    May 22, 2023 at 23:47

1 Answer 1

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Intended meanings:

1: And now you will say that they are going to see numbers and freak out, and you would obviously be right, but I am just trying to get my point across.

[That suggests I am coaching you to say something at some point in a situation that will occur. For example, answering questions by a board of ethics.]

and

2: And now you would say that they are going to see numbers and freak out, and you would obviously be right, but I am just trying to get my point across.

[That suggests that as your coach I'm giving you a choice of what to say to that same board of ethics.]

Another similar example: Tell them you will go tomorrow. [intention] Tell them you would go tomorrow if they insist.[possibility]

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