<p>I have a question about "would vs. will" in the following example:</p>
<p>Some of the book's passages wonderfully describe the physical realities of the Middle Ages, while others reflect the dazzling debates that would later lead to the Renaissance.</p>
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<p>This question is from Erica L. Meltzer's Ultimate Guide to SAT Grammar (Page 41 Question 21)</p>
<p>According to the rule she states in the book, "would" should not be used in a sentence that contains verbs in the present tense. However, here, she says that this sentence is correct.</p>
<p>I had changed the sentence by replacing "would" with "will," as she states that out of the two, "will" is the word that should be used when dealing with present tense.</p>
<p>Could someone please explain why I am wrong? Thanks!</p>
<p>The main issue here is that the RENAISSANCE discussed is in the past, and therefore those debates WOULD lead to the Renaissance. Had it been discussing debates that WILL lead to the Renaissance (later in our timeline,) one would have said that they will.</p>
<p>Nope, it should be “would” …the sentence is correct as it is. The sentence is referring to a book that talks about past. The Renaissance and the Middle Ages already happened, the sentence is referring to time movement in the past…so you have to use “would”. </p>
<p>IE:
Ronald Reagan’s speech about the evil empire would lead to the destruction of the berlin wall.</p>
<p>this makes more sense than using “will”…since all the events already happened, but in the sentence you are still referring to a time shift that occurred in the past. If you refer to the Revolutionary War and the Civil War you have to use “would” because, even though the Civil war occurred AFTER the Revolutionary, BOTH still occurred in the PAST.
I hope that made some sense.</p>