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Penicillin Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

What does this sentence mean?

Hello

I found this sentence in a book:

- Should a delay exist before this can occur...

And it isn't a question sentence.

Why is "should" in the first sentence?

Thanks
  

Top answer

Penicillin Hello I found this sentence in a book: - Should a delay exist before this can occur... And it isn't a question sentence. Why is "should" in the first sentence?

— Optilang

  • Penicillin Hello I found this sentence in a book: - Should a delay exist before this can occur...
  • And it isn't a question sentence.
  • Why is "should" in the first sentence?
  • Thanks It means - in the case of a delay existing before this can occur .....
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4 Answers
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PenicillinHello

I found this sentence in a book:

- Should a delay exist before this can occur...

And it isn't a question sentence.

Why is "should" in the first sentence?

Thanks

It means - in the case of a delay existing before this can occur .....
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Hi,

Should a delay exist ... = If a delay should exist ... (which means: we consider the existence of a delay very unlikely; however, if this delay existed ...)

It's not a question, but a conditional sentence where subject and verb are inverted and "if" is dropped.
It's a formal / literary construction, possible also without "should":

If I were th
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PenicillinI found this sentence in a book:

- Should a delay exist before this can occur...
should = if.
CJ
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