Google
English-Test.net
Find penpals and make new friends today!
 
quarrel; disagreement; argument
grade
obligation
dispute
nationality
full quiz correct answer
 
Username
Password
 Remember me? 
Search   Album   FAQ   Memberlist   Profile   Private messages   Register   Log in 

If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'? :)



 
ESL/EFL Worksheets and Handouts for Students Printable, photocopiable, clearly structured
Designed for teachers and individual learners
For use in a classroom, at home, on your PC
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
Difference between SEPERATE, DIVIDE, PART | Expression: "By the four winds"
listening exercisestell a friend
Message
Author
If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'? :) #1 (permalink) Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:06 pm   If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'? :)
 

I was taught that the pattern 'If you should' is rather formal and is used in the case when a speaker supposes an event (condition) to be very unlikely, just a chance possibility.

If your should see Ann, please ask her to phone me tomorrow.

OK.
My question is:

Is If you should equivalent (in the above sense) to If you happen or the latter still means 'more possible'? Or the latter is exactly the same, but just a bit less formal?
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Should/happen #2 (permalink) Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:31 pm   Should/happen
 

Hi Tamara,

You asked:

Quote:
If you should see Ann, please ask her to phone me tomorrow.

OK.
My question is:

Is If you should equivalent (in the above sense) to If you happen or the latter still means 'more possible'? Or the latter is exactly the same, but just a bit less formal?



I would say they are about the same - both indicating a tentative request. You can also say: If you should happen to meet ....

If by chance you meet ..

On the off chance that you meet
..

Alan
_________________
English as a Second Language
You can read my ESL story Present Simple
Alan
Co-founder
Alan Townend

Joined: 27 Sep 2003
Posts: 13891
Location: UK

Learn all about English adverbs in this amusing storyEnglish grammar exercises — improve your English knowledge and vocabulary skillsAre you a native speaker of English? Then you should read this!Learn how to explore English words! Subscribe to free email English course
If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'? :) #3 (permalink) Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:35 pm   If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'? :)
 

Hi Tamara

In American English, "If you happen to see" would be a much more typical expression. "If you should see" sounds fairly formal in AmE.

I'm not sure that I would think of "happen to" strictly as being used for "very unlikely" situations, though. It might be used in a situation where the degree of likelihood is simply unknown.

Amy
_________________
"Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man's character, give him power." ~ Abraham Lincoln
Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 8316
Location: USA

If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible' #4 (permalink) Mon Jul 24, 2006 12:36 pm   If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'
 

Tamara wrote:
Is If you should equivalent (in the above sense) to If you happen or the latter still means 'more possible'? Or the latter is exactly the same, but just a bit less formal?


- Should you see Ann...
- If you should see Ann...
- If you happen to see Ann..

all have the same meaning and are employed when there is a slight possibility of something happening. The last one is the most commonly used of the three.
Conchita
Language Coach


Joined: 26 Dec 2005
Posts: 2826
Location: Madrid, Spain

If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible' #5 (permalink) Mon Jul 24, 2006 16:31 pm   If you should vs If you happen: which is 'more possible'
 

Hi all

Alan wrote:
You can also say: If you should happen to meet ....

Oh yes… I've just forgotten it...
But I’ll never dare to use the pattern aloud :) , as for me it sounds frightfully formal and bookish.

But you all gave me the ways how to avoid using if-should for ‘highly unlikely’ cases. I just don’t like the pattern – with no any reason. :)

Thanks to you all!
Tamara
_________________
It’s impossible to learn swimming without entering the water…
Tamara
I'm a Communicator ;-)


Joined: 25 May 2006
Posts: 1577
Location: UK

Display posts from previous:   
Difference between SEPERATE, DIVIDE, PART | Expression: "By the four winds"
ESL Forums | English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms All times are GMT + 1 Hour
Page 1 of 1
Latest topics on ESL EFL Forums
"Didn't use to" vs. "didn't used to"The meaning of "quite" is...Exclamatory mark (exclamation mark?)Lines from a novel: "I wish I ...""Thirst" vs "In thirst"'If you will/would…' : Extra polite?How can a question be answered definitively?Meaning of "Green man"Help with 2 words: shampooed, processorLines from a novel: On someone else the fuzz would have..."Far below" vs "Far beneath"Goddess Dictina or TitaniaMeaning of dimple (Dimple dragon)

 
You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum
Subscribe to FREE email English course
First name E-mail