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Shouldn't 'shall' be 'would' to agree with 'could'?

 
 
Sun 4 Aug, 2019 04:31 am
We shall be obliged if you could kindly look into this matter on an urgent basis and expedite the payments as the matter has been long delayed.

Shouldn't 'shall' be 'would' to agree with 'could'?

Thanks.
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Type: Question • Score: 5 • Views: 355 • Replies: 6
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maxdancona
 
  2  
Sun 4 Aug, 2019 06:40 am
@tanguatlay,
No, they are different clauses. The verbs don't need to agree.

The first "We shall be obliged" indicates certainty. The second, "if you could look into this matter" indicates politeness (the verb doesn't indicate certainty).

That being said, this sentence sounds poorly written to this native speaker from the United States.
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tanguatlay
 
  1  
Sun 4 Aug, 2019 09:45 am
Thanks, Maxdancona.

How would you phrase the text?
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InfraBlue
 
  2  
Sun 4 Aug, 2019 10:59 am
@tanguatlay,
You've already asked this question.
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nacredambition
 
  2  
Sun 4 Aug, 2019 08:15 pm
I refer to Mr Dancona's missive of the 4th inst., remonstrate his parochial contention and assure him that the sentence is in perfect concordance with Victorian English c. 1840.
maxdancona
 
  2  
Mon 5 Aug, 2019 05:22 am
@nacredambition,
Forsooth!
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tanguatlay
 
  1  
Mon 5 Aug, 2019 09:50 am
@nacredambition,
nacredambition wrote:

I refer to Mr Dancona's missive of the 4th inst., remonstrate his parochial contention and assure him that the sentence is in perfect concordance with Victorian English c. 1840.
I refer to Mr Dancona's letter dated the 4th inst., remonstrate his parochial contention and assure him that the sentence is in accordance with Victorian English c. 1840.
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