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Anonymous Posted 10 years ago
Grammar

Doubt about "should"

In an analysis of "The Picture of Dorian Gray", I read the following: "Dorian wishes that he could change places with the portrait, so that the portrait should age and he remain forever young." Is "should" used correctly there? If so, could you clarify the matter for me? Thanks in advance
  

Top answer

Yes, it's correct. It's a conditional. 2).

— Blue Jay

  • Yes, it's correct.
  • It's a conditional.
  • 2).
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7 Answers
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Yes, it's correct. It's a conditional. See https://www.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/english/should (definitions 3, 3.1 and 3.2).
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It's correct, but I don't think it's conditional I think it's closer to '5. Used in a clause with ‘that’ expressing purpose:in order that training should be
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Thank you so much! I didn't know that it could be used to expressed purpose :-)
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Anonymousso that the portrait should age and he (should) remain forever young.
In this environment, should, would, might, and possibly even could are all possible with no change of meaning. It has a subjunctive flavor. I'd call it a periphrastic subjunctive. It's more literary than conversational, and seems (at least to American speakers) old-
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CalifJima periphrastic subjunctive.
I like that.
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fivejedjonIt's correct, but I don't think it's conditional I think it's closer to '5. Used in a clause with ‘that’ expressing purpose:in order that training should be effective it must be planned systematically '.
I think you're right.
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