If anything should go wrong

If anything should go wrong = If anything goes wrong

In this case "should" expresses possibility or imagined action in the future. The meaning is more or less the same as "If anything goes/went wrong" or "If anything were to go wrong". "If anything go wrong" is incorrect.

"In case anything go wrong" is also incorrect. "In case anything goes wrong" is correct, but it does not mean the same as the original sentence with "should".

Thank you Mr. tamguatlay!

Why some people prefer the form with should?
Is it more formal?
In this line of thoughts can we say that:
If anything should go wrong = If anything will go wrong

Thank you again!

Thank you Mr. GPY!
To me the confusion here comes from the possibility, because if also express sense of possibility.

By the way from your answer raised my second question:
Is it the same if we use went instead of goes when we are talking about the future?
If anything goes/went wrong

AnonymousTo me the confusion here comes from the possibility, because if also express sense of possibility.

Right, and "should" just complements that.

AnonymousBy the way from your answer raised my second question:Is it the same if we use went instead of goes when we are talking about the future?If anything goes/went wrong

With your help and after a little research I found that the second construction is very close to the future unreal conditional.

Example:
If anything should go wrong I would call you.
must be the same as
If anything went wrong I would call you.

In the grammar book they say that the future unreal conditional is used to talk about imaginary si

Anonymous It is only used when a speaker needs to emphasize that something is impossible.

No, it doesn't imply that something is impossible.

AnonymousWhy do some people prefer the form with should?

Probably because they've heard others say it that way more often.

If ... should go ... and If ... goes ... are pretty much in free variation. To my ear the version with 'should' sounds a bit more old-fashioned, like something my gr

Thank you CJ!

To sum up, If anything should go wrong is less common old fashioned American English. It implies that something is less probable to happen.

AnonymousTo sum up, If anything should go wrong is less common old fashioned American English.

To me. Other Americans are certain to have had different experiences. I just gave you my personal view.

AnonymousIt implies that something is less probable to happen.

But not much less probable than "if". I'd say that "should" p