Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, everyone!

A. If Tom gives me a call while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later.
B. If Tom should give me a call while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later.

I learned in my grammar book that "should" is used when the speaker thinks the possibility is very small. However, I happened to hear from an American that sentence A. and B. have almost the same meaning and that there's no such a clear difference in meaning.

Does "should" really make a difference in meaning, or not?

Thank you!

yoshi-pooh

[myprofe]

The two sentences are basically the same for me but perhaps with should it could be understood that the probably of him calling is less.
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[chinagary]

Agreed
In Longman Grammar, we call this "should" emotional "should". Sentence B implies that generally speaking, Tom will not give me a call while I'm out, but if he unexpectedly gives me a call, tell him I'll call you back later. That means the probability of Tom giving me a call is less.

[Lorikeet]

This use of "should" sounds very British to me.

[CP]

An old song by Porter Grainger and Everett Robbins, recorded back in the 1920s by the likes of Fats Waller and Bessie Smith, has this lyric:

If I should take a notion
To jump into the ocean,
'Tain't nobody's business if I do.

'Tain't is short for It ain't or it isn't. Not so much heard these days as 80 years ago, I guess.
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[yoshi-pooh]

Myprofe, chinagary, Lorikeet, CP, many thanks for your replies.

However, I'm still a little confused. So let me make sure if my understanding is correct.

A. If Tom gives me a call while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later.
B. If Tom should give me a call while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later.

1. Sentences A and B have almost the same meaning.

2. However, if there's a slight difference, Sentence B, with "should", implies the possibility of Tom giving me a call is smaller than A, without "should".

3. This use of "should" sounds very British to speakers of North American English, as lorikeet says.

4. Also, this use of "should" sounds old-fashioned, as CP suggests.

5. Most of my dictionaries, edited by non- native speakers of English, say there 's a clear difference in meaning between A and B. They say Sentence B is used when the speaker emphasizes that the possibility of Tom giving a call is very, very small, while there's no such implication in A. However, native speakers of English don't find such a big difference between the two sentences.

6. Therefore, the explanation in my dictionaries is misleading and doesn't reflect the actual use of the "should".I'm really sorry to have written such a large message, but do you think I'm on the right track?

Thank you!

yoshi-pooh

[CP]

I think you are on the right track.

To me, that use of "should" is only slightly old fashioned; certainly people use it today, but not too often. A more typical use these days: "If ever you should need my help, just call."

As for implying a very, very low likelihood, I wouldn't go that far. Probably most native speakers would take it to mean that the one saying it is doubtful / a little doubtful that the person will call.

Although I think people whose second or third language is English often learn the rules of English grammar better than native speakers -- who, after all, can skip the study of grammar altogether and still speak like natives! -- I would not rely on dictionaries or thesauri edited by non-native speakers. There are plenty edited by native speakers, and these days, you can find many resources online.
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You live a new life for every new language you speak. -Czech proverb

[yoshi-pooh]

Hi, CP

Thank you for your reply.

yoshi-pooh