8.33 USAGE NOTE

A more formal way of talking about a possible future situation is to use 'should' in the conditional clause. For example, instead of saying 'If anything happens, I will return immediately', you can say 'If anything should happen, I will return immediately'. In the main clause you use a modal, usually 'will' or 'would'.

• If anyone should come this way, we would be caught like rats in a trap.

Another way of talking about a possible future situation is to use 'were' and a 'to'-infinitive in a conditional clause. For example, instead of saying 'If he goes, I will go too', you can say 'If he were to go, I would go too'. In the main clause you use 'would', 'should', or 'might'.

• If we were to move north, we would be able to buy a bigger house.