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Pructus Posted 14 years ago
Grammar

I'm afraid he should have been seriously injured

Hi, Members and Forum Gurus!!

Someone claims that the sentence, "I'm afraid he should have been seriously injured" is wrong.

But I find it correct, the meaning of the sentence being, "I am afraid that he was seriously injured".

Isn't the sentence correct?
  

Top answer

American answer: You are wrong. The sentence "I'm afraid he should have been seriously injured" does not mean "I am afraid that he was seriously injured". In fact, I can't think of a situation that would make that sentence have any meaning.

— Enoon

  • American answer: You are wrong.
  • The sentence "I'm afraid he should have been seriously injured" does not mean "I am afraid that he was seriously injured".
  • In fact, I can't think of a situation that would make that sentence have any meaning.
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8 Answers
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American answer:

You are wrong. The sentence "I'm afraid he should have been seriously injured" does not mean "I am afraid that he was seriously injured". In fact, I can't think of a situation that would make that sentence have any meaning.
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enoon In fact, I can't think of a situation that would make that sentence have any meaning.
I can, but I must warn members that it is very artificial:

Gangster A: Hey Bugsy. Your guys just killed my best hit man, Schmolzy. I know he ran off with your girl, but did you have to get them to kill him? Surely a beating would gave been enough.
G
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I see... I see...

Thanks, enoon and fivejedjon!!

I think I've got what you mean, fivejedjon...

It means that, "I think he should ONLY have been seriously injured but actually he happened to be beaten to death".

How about this one?

"I am sorry that he should have been seriously injured".

It's intended meaning is "I am sorry that he was injured,
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American, again. We don't use "should" that way. That makes it "I am sorry that he was seriously injured" stateside. I think you mean something else, though, to judge by your explanation: "I am surprised that he was seriously injured."
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I see, enoon!!

Then, how about, "I am surprised that he should have been seriously injured"?
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pructusI see, enoon!!Then, how about, "I am surprised that he should have been seriously injured"?
As I said, Americans do not use "should" that way. I am not familiar enough with British English to say for sure whether your sentence is idiomatic over there, but I think it is and is equivalent to the US "I am surprised that he was seriously injured."
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pructusSomeone claims that the sentence, "I'm afraid he should have been seriously injured" is wrong.
I have to agree that it's wrong (in the intended reading). The should that you're talking about in this thread is "evaluative should" and it's chiefly a British usage. Evaluative should works with certain introductory phrases like I'm
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I see.... I see...

Now, I think I've got the clue....

Thanks so much, CJ!!
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