Would they do...

[aachu]

I've heard sentences like: "Should I succeed, I'll give you treat" etc. But yesterday I came across another sentence. It was something like: " Would they do it again, I'll punish them". Do we use would instead of should when third person is involved in an action or there is something else I can't grab it?

 

[bhaisahab]

I've heard sentences like: "Should I succeed, I'll give you treat" etc. But yesterday I came across another sentence. It was something like: " Would they do it again, I'll punish them". Do we use would instead of should when third person is involved in an action or there is something else I can't grab it?

"Would they do it again, I'll punish them" is incorrect.

 

[5jj]

A note for those new to the forum: my 'like' of bhai's post indicates that I agree with what he said. I would have said the same, if I had got there first.

 

[aachu]

Yes. I was wrong. The sentence was, "would that they do it again, I'll punish them". I guess, The speaker meant, if they did it again, he would punish them(?)

 

[5jj]

The sentence was, "would that they do it again, I'll punish them". I guess, The speaker meant, if they did it again, he would punish them(?)

That sentence is also incorrect. One possibility is, "Were they to do that again, I'd punish them."

 

[aachu]

5jj, It is so, for I rephrased the original statement. I thought-though wrong I might have been- It would be a little odd/awkward to quote a criminal here. Anyway, here is the original statement: "Would they come back to life a hundred times, you should do the same" ..

Context: A person killed her daughters in the name of honour in Canada. The police tapped his calls and caught the man saying so..

 

[5jj]

That sentence is not correct English.

 

[emsr2d2]

5jj, It is so, for I rephrased the original statement. I thought-though wrong I might have been- It would be a little odd/awkward to quote a criminal here. Anyway, here is the original statement: "Would they come back to life a hundred times, you should do the same" ..

Context: A person killed her daughters in the name of honour in Canada. The police tapped his calls and caught the man saying so..

Without wishing to cause any potential offence, in my opinion, if the person was being investigated for/found guilty of "honour killings", I would expect that their first native language was probably not English.