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258 Should, were, had and inversion

The following types of clause are rather formal.

1 We can use should in an if-clause to talk about something which is possible but

not very likely.

I'm not expecting any calls, but if anyone should ring, could you take a message?

If you should fail ill, we will pay your hospital expenses.

NOTE

We can also use happen to.

If anyone happens to ring/should happen to ring, could you take a message?

2 Sometimes we use the subjunctive were instead of was. • 242(3)

If the picture was/were genuine, it would be worth thousands of pounds.

If it wasn't/weren't for Emma, I'd have no friends at all.

(= Without Emma,...)

We can also use were to for a theoretical possibility.

If the decision were to go against us, we would appeal.

3 We can express a condition with should or the subjunctive were by inverting the

subject and verb.