Maple Posted 19 years ago
Grammar
should you VS if you should
Are all of the following sentences correct? If yes, what are the main differences among them?
1) Besides, should you discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
2) Besides, if you should discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
3) Besides, you would discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
4) Besides, you will discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
Thanks for any opinions in advance!
1) Besides, should you discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
2) Besides, if you should discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
3) Besides, you would discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
4) Besides, you will discover in yourself a fondness for great reading, then it is likely that in no season of your life will you become incurably bored or feel totally alone – even when there is nothing on television.
Thanks for any opinions in advance!
Top answer
Hi Maple 1) and 2) are correct and mean the same thing. 1) is more formal than 2). " 3) and 4) are structurally correct but the use of then , which in these sentences indicates a consequence, isn't good English.
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Hi Maple
1) and 2) are correct and mean the same thing. 1) is more formal than 2). The use of if + should indicates that the speaker considers it quite unlikely that "you will discover in yourself a great fondness for reading."
3) and 4) are structurally correct but the use of then, which in these sentences indicates a consequence, isn't good English.
Chee
1) and 2) are correct and mean the same thing. 1) is more formal than 2). The use of if + should indicates that the speaker considers it quite unlikely that "you will discover in yourself a great fondness for reading."
3) and 4) are structurally correct but the use of then, which in these sentences indicates a consequence, isn't good English.
Chee
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I would look at #2 slightly differently – for me, the "if you should" suggests a neutral attitude towards the likelihood that the addressee will discover a fondness for great reading.
I would agree that #3 and #4 are unsatisfactory, as they stand. They seem to present the main clauses of some preceding if-clause:
3. Besides, (if that happened,) you would discover in yourse
I would agree that #3 and #4 are unsatisfactory, as they stand. They seem to present the main clauses of some preceding if-clause:
3. Besides, (if that happened,) you would discover in yourse
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The comments are terrifically helpful for me to accurately express my idea.
Thank you again, MrP; I've learned a lot from you today!
Best Regards!
Maple
Thank you again, MrP; I've learned a lot from you today!
Best Regards!
Maple
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