Should: That I should see a child of mine arrested for...

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Dear teacher,

Please read:

  1. That I should see a child of mine arrested for selling drugs!

  2. Why should I help him?

What is the meaning of “should”?
What is the meaning of “That”?

Quoc

2

Hi,

That I should see …

That here is anticipating the main sentence and understood is an unseen part which would perhaps continue: is very hard to believe.

Should in the first sentence is an example of the imaginary past or past subjunctive.

Should in the second sentence means roughly the same as ought.

Alan

3

Thank you, Alan

So the sentences given above and below are natural English? Can I use them in my EVERYDAY ENGLISH?

1- That you would deceive me was certain.

Please shed some light on it.

Tom