This is getting interesting, and confusing.
1-It is strange that they should be so rude.
2-It is strange that they are so rude.
I think here 1 implies a bit of doubt as to their being rude. "The whole thing is strange. Maybe we have misinterpreted their acts, although they do seem to be rude."
The second sentence leaves no doubt as to their have being rude. But if one uses "sad" instead of "strange", it will all come down to the same thing.
3-It is good that he should go there.
One meaning could be: it is good that he OUGHT TO go there. But if we leave this aside, we'll have one question: Does he actually go there?
With "good" it seems to me that he does. But what if we use "better"?
4-It is better that he should go there.
I would tend to interpret it as "It would be better if he went there." But I don't think that the second interpretation is excluded. The sentence could be used when he does actually go there.
I have, as is my habit, expressed all this in a very dogmatic manner, because it is easier to speak that way. In reality I am plagued with doubts. Every affirmative sentence I have used should be read as a question, except this one!  |