How to use "If and Should"
Hello everyone,

I have been studying English with the book “English Grammar in Use – Cambridge”.

In Unit 32 – Should 2 there is the following explanation:

[...]
If...Should...
You can say “If something should happen...”. For example:
If Tom should phone while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later.
“If Tom should phone” is similar to “It Tom phones”. With should, the speaker feels that the possibility is smaller.
Another example:
We have no jobs at present. But if the situation should change, we’ll let you know.

You can also begin these sentences with should (Should something happens...):
Should Tom phone, tell him I’ll call him back later.
[...]

I have to say I think the explanation a little confuse and I prefer to use the examples without "should", like:
It Tom phones while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later.
We have no jobs at present. But if the situation change, we’ll let you know.
If Tom phone, tell him I’ll call him back later.

But I’m learning English, so I want to know if it's important to know how to use "IF and SHOULD" together. Is it common? Who speaks English fluently use these two words together?

Thanks for the help!

Question

How to use "If and Should"
Hello everyone,

I have been studying English with the book “English Grammar in Use – Cambridge”.

In Unit 32 – Should 2 there is the following explanation:

[...]
If...Should...
You can say “If something should happen...”. For example:
	If Tom should phone while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later.
“If Tom should phone” is similar to “It Tom phones”. With should, the speaker feels that the possibility is smaller. 
Another example:
	We have no jobs at present. But if the situation should change, we’ll let you know.

You can also begin these sentences with should (Should something happens...):
	Should Tom phone, tell him I’ll call him back later.
[...]

I have to say I think the explanation a little confuse and I prefer to use the examples without "should", like:
	It Tom phones while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later.
	We have no jobs at present. But if the situation change, we’ll let you know.
	If Tom phone, tell him I’ll call him back later.

But I’m learning English, so I want to know if it's important to know how to use "IF and SHOULD" together. Is it common? Who speaks English fluently use these two words together?

Thanks for the help!

Answer

In general, yes, you can simply drop the "should."  If it is important to state the low probability, there are other ways to communicate it.

1 - If Tom phones while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later.
2a - If Tom should phone while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later. 
2b - I doubt that Tom will phone, but if he phones while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later.

Sentence 2a uses "should" to express the unlikelihood of Tom phoning.  
Sentence 2b uses "I doubt" to express the unlikelihood of Tom phoning.

"should" has largely disappeared in American English.  The remaining uses are asking for advice or permission (3a), giving advice (3b), and reproaching someone (3c).  
3a - Should we go to the cinema tonight?  
3b - You should lose weight and exercise more. 
3c - You should have studied more.  If you had, you would have passed the exam.

Answer

Hi! Okay so in American English should is not really used often as the beginning of the sentence, but some people do, but regardless people will understand you.

If you need help, then you should ask.

In your examples without should, the first one "If Tom phones while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later." This one is correct, but is a little more slangy. I would use this sentence more than the example sentence. "If Tom should phone while I’m out, tell him I’ll call him back later." But should is not entirely necessary for the next two sentences, but it changes the ending of some of the words without the word.

We have no jobs at present. But if the situation changes, we’ll let you know.
	If Tom phones, tell him I’ll call him back later.

Again, this is very slangy and informal so I would use the should's if you were speaking to someone you did not know.

Answers · 2

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