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  1. He promised that he will help me with my homework.

  2. He promised [that] he would help me with my homework.

Which sentence is grammatically correct? I saw this debate and I genuinely don't know the answer since English isn't my first language. But I feel like the second sentence is more pleasing to hear.

Can someone help? If you have an answer can I know why that was your answer?

Heartspring
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Rea
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  • 1-We often skip the connecting word that because we understand it without saying it. 2-The two promises are very similar, so we can't say which promise he made, but will is more solid and would is more theory. – Yosef Baskin Nov 16 '23 at 16:30
  • @YosefBaskin Sorry but if that wasn't removed, would the first sentence still be more proper? – Rea Nov 16 '23 at 16:37
  • Both sentences are good as they are, with will or would, with that or not. In everyday language, they mean the same. But to be precise, will predicts the future (a real promise). Would is a little vague, like "I did say I would help you, but I got busy," Or "I would help if you were the sort that helped me. Hah." My numbering was not matched to the examples, just separate points. – Yosef Baskin Nov 16 '23 at 16:52
  • Did you deliberately include the (entirely optional) "subordinating conjunction" *that* in the first example, but NOT the second? It's semantically irrelevant, so it's distracting to have a meaningless difference between your two texts. Put it in both or neither, and/or ask a separate question about *that* if you don't understand the point I'm making here. – FumbleFingers Nov 16 '23 at 17:16
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    Does this answer your question? Isn't this against tense agreement? Also "I said I would/will go" — which one is correct? and others. – FumbleFingers Nov 16 '23 at 17:21
  • If you use 'will', you are still expecting him to do it. – Kate Bunting Nov 16 '23 at 17:57

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