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#2 (permalink) Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:09 am Should / Would into relative clause |
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I think 'would' would be better here.
It's surprising that this restaurant would be so successful (now/in the future). The food isn't very good.
It's surprising that this restaurant would become so successful (now/in the future). The food isn't very good.
It's surprising because you don't know this restaurant would be so successful now/in the future.
(You think it lousy, and it's so surprising that now it would be so successful)
But we often use 'should' to express something rather possible, logical.
Henry should get here soon---he left home at 6. We're spending the winter in Florida. 'That should/would be nice.' |
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Edison_Chen_e_c I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 206
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#3 (permalink) Thu Aug 16, 2007 4:48 am Should / Would into relative clause |
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. 'Should' and 'would' as conditional auxiliaries are essentially interchangeable. Either will serve in your sentence, jonifa. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#4 (permalink) Thu Aug 16, 2007 5:26 am Should / Would into relative clause |
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As what Mr. MM said, I have a check on 'would/should'. They are interchangeable sometimes in British English:
If I knew her name, I would/should tell you. If we had a map, we would/should be able to get out of here. (Pratical English Usage by Michael Swan 260.3)
And sometimes there's difference between 'would' and 'should':
If you should (not would)run into Peter, tell him he owes me a letter. If he should (not would)be late, we will (not would)have to start without him. (Pratical English Usage by Michael Swan 261.2) |
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Edison_Chen_e_c I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 23 Jul 2007 Posts: 206
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#5 (permalink) Thu Aug 16, 2007 9:36 am Should / Would into relative clause |
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Hi Jonifa,
I would choose 'should' as it has a special sense here of was due to/was going to be ...
Alan _________________ English as a Second Language You can read my ESL story Present Simple |
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Alan Co-founder

Joined: 27 Sep 2003 Posts: 13891 Location: UK
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#6 (permalink) Thu Aug 16, 2007 18:36 pm Should / Would into relative clause |
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Hi, Mister Micawber
I just checked with my grammar book and they offer 2 possibilities:
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It's surprising that this restaurant is so successful. The food isn't very good It's surprising that this restaurant should be so successful. The food isn't very good
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They add that should intensifies the feeling of surprise They say nothing about would though. I guess it is a new language trend, isn't it? (Because my book is kind of old) |
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Lost_Soul I'm a Communicator ;-)

Joined: 15 Sep 2006 Posts: 1861 Location: South Park, Colorado, USA
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#7 (permalink) Fri Aug 17, 2007 5:10 am Should / Would into relative clause |
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| I guess it is a new language trend, isn't it? |
Not really-- I'm sure that it is older than you. Alan, as a BrE speaker, prefers 'should'. but HERE'RE 381,000 'would's, more or less. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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#8 (permalink) Wed Aug 22, 2007 23:00 pm Should / Would into relative clause |
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| Quickliy scanning the first four or five pages of the results you have given above, I should guess that most of those 381,000 examples are in the third person and 'would' is correct. Other than as a synonym for 'ought to' [You should/ought to see the doctor about that cough] do Americans never use 'I/we should'? |
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Don Geraldos I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 20 Aug 2007 Posts: 11
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#9 (permalink) Wed Aug 22, 2007 23:10 pm Should / Would into relative clause |
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. Oh, sure-- I use both. I think it varies with the individual (or region?) though. . _________________ Native English teacher at Mister Micawber's |
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Mister Micawber Language Coach
Joined: 17 Jul 2005 Posts: 13015
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| today v.s. that day | Phrase 'which pupil' (Which pupil speaks English the best?) |