Subjunctive

Question

Tell me exmple sentences starting with "If you should have any questions". I could say If you should have any questoins, you could ask your friends. If you should have any questions, you should ask your teacher. If you should have any questions, you may ask your mother. If you should have any questions, ask anybody.

Is there any other example?

Avangi · Accepted Answer

If you should have any questions, just press the "HELP" button.

Anonymous · Answer

Hi Avangi,

I'm not the original poster, but I was wondering if you could help me, please.

Is the clause:
"If you should have any questions,..."
the same as saying:
"Should you have any questions,..."?

If so, from what I read from another thread here, this should take the conditional I type of statement, therefore the main clause should normally have modals in present form like: will, shall, can, & may; and not the past form: would, should, could & might. Would you agree?

If so, I believe the original poster's example with 'might' does not have the usual structure, doesn't it?

Although sometimes I think it depends on the context. Do you think so?

Thank you.

Anonymous · Answer

AnonymousIf so, I believe the original poster's example with 'might' does not have the usual structure, doesn't it?

Sorry, I mean the examples where the main clause has modals in the past form.

Avangi · Answer

Hi, Anon. I'm sure someone else will have a better answer.
You may substitute "should you have" in my sentence, but I'm not prepared to say it would be the same.

Note that the main clause is imperative. It doesn't seem to work the same in all persons and numbers.
Should I have any questions, I'll just press the "HELP" button. .(Does this meet your "will" requirement?)

I don't find the OP's example with "might." I'm not sure what you're asking. Do you mean if we substitute "might" somewhere? Maybe you can clear this up for me.

Avangi · Answer

Sorry, the anon posting delay creates some weird situations.

Anonymous · Answer

AvangiShould I have any questions, I'll just press the "HELP" button. .(Does this meet your "will" requirement?)

Yes, it does because if 'would' were used here, it would be unusual.

My problem is with the structure below. As a native speaker, which form do you think is correct?
If both are possible, which is the usual structure?

If I should have any questions, I will/would just press the "HELP" button.

Avangi · Answer

AnonymousIf I should have any questions, I will/would just press the "HELP" button.

Clearly, "will" is the only acceptable choice.

I can also imagine, "If I had any problems I would just press etc." (hypothetical)

"If I had had any problems, I would have just pressed etc." (meaning, I did not.)

Best wishes, - A.

Anonymous · Answer

Thanks, Avangi, for your helpful response.

Avangi
AnonymousIf I should have any questions, I will/would just press the "HELP" button.
Clearly, "will" is the only acceptable choice.

Therefore, 'should' and 'will' here can go together, even though one is in the past form and the other is in the present/future.

I was actually comparing this sentence with the following where mixing up the forms would not be correct.

If I could sing, I would serenade you. (we don't usually say: ...could..., ...will...)

If I can dance, I will dance with you all night long. (we don't usually say: ...can.., ...would...)

I'm a bit confused. I would really appreciate your input here.

CalifJim · Answer

Anonymousthe main clause should normally have modals in present form like: will, shall, can, & may; and not the past form: would, should, could & might. Would you agree?

Past-tense forms of the modals are frequently "borrowed" into present-tense contexts. should, for example, is almost always used in a present-tense context; might is also very frequently used that way; could and would, maybe less so, but still, often enough.

Should you have any questions can probably be followed by any modal, but would seems the least likely to me.

CJ

Anonymous · Answer

Hi CJ,

Thank you for your input. That was really helpful.

CalifJimShould you have any questions

Is this exactly the same as saying "If you should have any questions" with no difference in meaning?

As of writing this post, I had posted some questions earlier. Could you please comment on that as well? Thanks.

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