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Santosh121 Posted 12 years ago
Grammar

Should

Is it correct : I would be in jail if police should chance upon the gun in my bag.
  

Top answer

I would be in jail if the police should chance upon the gun in my bag. I would be sent to jail if the police should chance upon the gun in my bag. Strictly the second one seems more logical, but I guess the first one would be understood.

— GPY

  • I would be in jail if the police should chance upon the gun in my bag.
  • I would be sent to jail if the police should chance upon the gun in my bag.
  • Strictly the second one seems more logical, but I guess the first one would be understood.
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4 Answers
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I would be in jail if the police should chance upon the gun in my bag.
I would be sent to jail if the police should chance upon the gun in my bag.

Strictly the second one seems more logical, but I guess the first one would be understood.
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santosh121I would be in jail if police should chance upon the gun in my bag.
I perceive if ... should ... as a variant of the first conditional (with will), not as a variant of the second (with would), so I would change would to will in that sentence.

I'll be in jail if police should chance upon the gun in my bag.
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Let's put it into street lingo and see how it sounds: "Dude, I'd be in jail right now, if the police (had) found that gun in my bag!"
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PeterTLet's put it into street lingo and see how it sounds
OK. So how does it sound? Emotion: smile
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