should

[jack]

What do these mean?

1. Should my system be fine? (I want to ask someone if my system is going to be fine in the future. Is this correct? Isn't 'should' past tense?)
2. Is my system fine?

[Casiopea]

What do these mean?

1. Should my system be fine? (I want to ask someone if my system is going to be fine in the future. Is this correct? Isn't 'should' past tense?)
2. Is my system fine?

Use "Will" to express certainty:

Will my system be fine? (i.e., Yes or No?)

[jack]

But this is not wrong right? Why does this work though? Isn't 'should' past tense?
1. Should my system be fine?

Is this correct?
2. You should max out the time with your love ones before it is too late. (Is this talking about the future? Why? Isn't 'should' past tense?)

Does this mean more then one time? Does it make more sense to use 'times' since you love more then one person, which means you should max out more then one time?
3. You should max out the times with your love ones before it is too late. (Is this talking about the future? Why? Isn't 'should' past tense?)

[Casiopea]

But this is not wrong right? Why does this work though? Isn't 'should' past tense?
1. Should my system be fine?

In that context 'should' means, likelihood. It's a modal. :wink: In 2., modal 'should' expresses a suggestion.

2. You should max out the time with your love ones before it is too late. :D

3. You should max out the times with your love ones before it is too late. :(

[jack]

In that context 'should' means, likelihood. It's a modal. In 2., modal 'should' expresses a suggestion.

What's a modal? I have looked it up, but I don't really understand the meaning. Could you explain it to me? Thanks.

1. I should have read this book. (Does this mean I should have read that book?)
2. I should read this book. (What does this mean? How come it is not in past tense? This is a suggestion?)

[Casiopea]

What's a modal?

Click here. :D

[jack]

1. Mazda Dealer will take care of them should a problem arise. (Is this correct? How come this doesn't sound right to me?)
2. Mazda Dealer will take care of them if a problem arise. (correct?)

[Casiopea]

1. Mazda Dealer will take care of them should a problem arise. (Is this correct? How come this doesn't sound right to me?)
2. Mazda Dealer will take care of them if a problem arise. (correct?)

I believe they are synonymous:

should (some unexpected) problem (happen to) arise

if a problem arise

[jack]

should ([/u]some unexpected) [/u] problem (happen to) arise

Why it isn't like this:
1. Should some unexpected problems arise. (Isn't 'problem' countable?)

Why this is incorrect?
2. You should max out the times with your love ones before it is too late. (Why is it incorrect with 'times'?)

[Casiopea]

Why isn't it like this:
1. Should some unexpected problems arise. (Isn't 'problem' countable?)

Why is this incorrect?
2. You should max out the times with your love ones before it is too late. (Why is it incorrect with 'times'?)

1. 'some' can express (a) an unknown number or (b) an unknown kind:

(a) Should some problems arise.... (OK; an unknown number, plural)
(b) Should some problem arise... (OK; an unknown kind, singular)

2. 'time' refers to Time itself, a thing: a period.