Предположение (should, would)

Предположение (Supposition) выражается формами should и would + Infinitive или Perfect Infinitive в независимых (в простых или главных) предложениях:

I am glad we are going away; it would be dull to stay without our friends who have all gone away.

She would have slipped up to her room but old Jolyon who heard her coming, was in the dining-room doorway.

Значение предположения значительно ослабевает в сочетании should и would с глаголами like, prefer, think и say , часто встречающимися в диалоге:

Come, come, Clyde, wouldn’t you like to sit up and talk to a lawyer fellow?

“Pretty stiff in the back,” said he. “Yes,” I said, “I should think it very likely.”

Would you mind taking notes, Josjua?

I should think there has never been a man who enjoyed his profession more than Mr. Creakle.

“It is awfully hot here,” said the girl. “I would like to go out.”

Такое же ослабление значения предположения наблюдается в форме could :

Could you show me the way to the circus?

При ослабленном значении предположения грамматические формы наклонения приобретают характер речевых штампов для выражения желания, мнения, утверждения, возможности и т. д. в смягченной форме.

I say all this that all may understand what I mean to do. I said all this that you might understand … (последовательность времен).

I thanked her (Miss Murdstone) without making any demonstration of joy lest it should induce her to withdraw her assent. (D.)

Примечание: В разговорной речи оборот с lest не употребляется. Вместо него используется so that … not : The blinds were pulled down so that the passer-by should not see (might not see) what was going on inside.