Should?
We only married in order that the child should be legitimate.
Would you be willing to tell me what should in the sentence above means?
Thanks in advance!
Top answer
"should be" has a subjunctive-like purpose; it is triggered by the phrase "in order that" and used to express the outcome that one wants to achieve. The "pure" subjunctive form would be: We only married in order that the child be legitimate. This is very formal-sounding.
- "should be" has a subjunctive-like purpose; it is triggered by the phrase "in order that" and used to express the outcome that one wants to achieve.
- The "pure" subjunctive form would be: We only married in order that the child be legitimate.
- This is very formal-sounding.
- "should be" is a slightly more everyday way of saying it (at least in BrE).
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"should be" has a subjunctive-like purpose; it is triggered by the phrase "in order that" and used to express the outcome that one wants to achieve. The "pure" subjunctive form would be:
We only married in order that the child be legitimate.
This is very formal-sounding. "should be" is a slightly more everyday way of saying it (at least in BrE).
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