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Komountain Posted 21 years ago
Grammar
About an emotional 'should'
First of all, my heart goes out to the families of the tsunami victims.
Here is my question.
With regard to the [It is a pity/regrettable/pitiful... that S should V...] pattern, I think I've learned that the 'should,' which is often called an emotional 'should,' is a must. Is it?Somehow, however, I don't think it is an absolute item to convey emotional messages
as in the following examples.
1. It is a great pity that he should have been killed in the tsunami disaster.
What if I omit 'should' and make it read as 2 or 3?
2. It is a great pity that he has been killed in the tsunami disaster.
3. It is a great pity that he was killed in the tsunami disaster.
Please take a look at 4.
4. I was surprised/disappointed/sorry... that he should have failed in the exam.
What if I rewrite 4 as:
5. I was surprised/disappointed/sorry that he had failed in the exam.
I personally think 5 sounds better than does 4.
Here is my question.
With regard to the [It is a pity/regrettable/pitiful... that S should V...] pattern, I think I've learned that the 'should,' which is often called an emotional 'should,' is a must. Is it?Somehow, however, I don't think it is an absolute item to convey emotional messages
as in the following examples.
1. It is a great pity that he should have been killed in the tsunami disaster.
What if I omit 'should' and make it read as 2 or 3?
2. It is a great pity that he has been killed in the tsunami disaster.
3. It is a great pity that he was killed in the tsunami disaster.
Please take a look at 4.
4. I was surprised/disappointed/sorry... that he should have failed in the exam.
What if I rewrite 4 as:
5. I was surprised/disappointed/sorry that he had failed in the exam.
I personally think 5 sounds better than does 4.
Top answer
It might be called an emotional 'should', Komountain, but better yet, an emotive should. Modals express emotions, feelings, opinions, etc. In this case, it is more of a softening mechanism.
- It might be called an emotional 'should', Komountain, but better yet, an emotive should.
- Modals express emotions, feelings, opinions, etc.
- In this case, it is more of a softening mechanism.
- Instead of the more direct but equally correct examples you've given, this should just offers a less direct manner.
- Don't confuse this should with a expressing a measure of certainty, as in, He should have been there an hour ago.
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1 Answers
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It might be called an emotional 'should', Komountain, but better yet, an emotive should. Modals express emotions, feelings, opinions, etc. In this case, it is more of a softening mechanism.
Instead of the more direct but equally correct examples you've given, this should just offers a less direct manner. Don't confuse this should with a expressing a measure of certainty, as in,
Instead of the more direct but equally correct examples you've given, this should just offers a less direct manner. Don't confuse this should with a expressing a measure of certainty, as in,
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