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Henry74 Posted 14 years ago
Grammar
If I should decide
Hello,
I am not sure which is the correct way to continue:
a) If I should decide to sell, you will be the first to know.
b) If I should decide to sell, you would be the first to know.
It seems to me that b) should be correct, in that it maintains parallelism. But I've been wondering if a) couldn't be correct as well. Can I read If I should decide as either If I decide or If I decided, depending on circumstances?
Also, suppose that I want to replace the infinitive with a that-construction in the if-clause. How should the sentence continue:
c) If I should decide that I will sell, [...]
d) If I should decide that I would sell, [...]
e) If I should decide that I sold, [...]
Can you please help me?
Thank you!
H.
I am not sure which is the correct way to continue:
a) If I should decide to sell, you will be the first to know.
b) If I should decide to sell, you would be the first to know.
It seems to me that b) should be correct, in that it maintains parallelism. But I've been wondering if a) couldn't be correct as well. Can I read If I should decide as either If I decide or If I decided, depending on circumstances?
Also, suppose that I want to replace the infinitive with a that-construction in the if-clause. How should the sentence continue:
c) If I should decide that I will sell, [...]
d) If I should decide that I would sell, [...]
e) If I should decide that I sold, [...]
Can you please help me?
Thank you!
H.
Top answer
Here's how I say them. I take the 'should' as just an optional element in the present tense form If I decide to sell . If I should decide to sell, you will be the first to know .
- Here's how I say them.
- I take the 'should' as just an optional element in the present tense form If I decide to sell .
- If I should decide to sell, you will be the first to know .
- If I should decide that I will sell, ...
- Actually, I wouldn't say the second one.
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4 Answers
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Here's how I say them. I take the 'should' as just an optional element in the present tense form If I decide to sell.
If I should decide to sell, you will be the first to know.
If I should decide that I will sell, ...
Actually, I wouldn't say the second one. I'd leave it as 'to sell'.
If I should decide to sell, you will be the first to know.
If I should decide that I will sell, ...
Actually, I wouldn't say the second one. I'd leave it as 'to sell'.
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CalifJimI take the 'should' as just an optional element in the present tense form If I decide to sell.Oh, okay. So it doesn't read as past at all.
And if I started with If I were to decide to sell, would you continue with would, or would this also read as replacing a present tense form?
H.
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Henry74if I started with If I were to decide to sell, would you continue with would, or would this also read as replacing a present tense form?No. That's the analog for If I decided to sell, ... would .... Past tense (were) in an if-clause used to represent present time -- hypothetical present time.
In summary,
If I de
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