should inversion for unreal

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aysaa

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Hi,

If you see should Paul, he would be happy to hear your news.

It is OK, but I would like to ask if we can invert it with 'should' or not. For example;

-Should you see Paul, he would be happy to hear your news.

Thanks.
 
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5jj

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aysaa

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:oops: Sorry I have forgotten to write 'should' in the first sentence. It should have been ' if you should see Paul, he would be happy to hear your news'. Thanks for the answer. :up:
 

BobK

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I'm sure that order is the one that 5jj thought he was agreeing to. ;-)

b
 

5jj

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I m sure that order is the one that 5jj thought he was agreeing to. ;-)
That's a kind thought with hindsight (I almost used that excuse myself), but I was actually agreeing to the original "If you seePaul, he would be happy to hear your news".

I spent some time agonising (OK, perhaps that words a little too strong) about whether that was acceptable, and finally decided that, although it breaks the traditional conditional 'rules', it's natural enough in conversation. I think that this is because 'he would like' is fine; 'he would be happy' is close enough in meaning to be acceptable. I think :-?.
 
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