12 Should

"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be
used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Examples:
When you go to Berlin you should visit the palaces in !otsdam. recommendation
"ou should #ocus more on your #amily and less on work. advice
I really should be in the o##ice by $:%% &'. obligation
By now they should already be in (ubai. expectation
Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future
'ost modal verbs behave )uite irregularly in the past and the #uture. Study the chart
below to learn how "should" behaves in di##erent contexts.
'odal *se
!ositive +orms
,. - !resent .. - !ast /. -
+uture
0egative +orms
,. - !resent .. -
!ast /. - +uture
"ou can
also use:
should
recommendation,
advisability
,. !eople with high
cholesterol should eat low1#at
#oods.
.. +rank should have eaten
low1#at #oods. 2hat might
have prevented his heart
attack.
/. "ou really should start
eating better.
,. Sarah shouldn3t
smoke so much. It3s
not good #or her
health.
.. Sarah shouldn3t
have smoked so
much. 2hat3s what
caused her health
problems.
/. Sarah shouldn3t
smoke when she
visits 'artha next
week. 'artha hates
when people smoke
in her house.
ought to
should
obligation
I should be at work be#ore
4:%%.
We should return the video
05 0E6&2I7E
+58'S
be
supposed
to
be#ore the video rental store
closes.
"Should" can also express
something between
recommendation and
obligation. "Be supposed to"
expresses a similar idea and
can easily be used in the past
or in negative forms.
should
expectation
,. Susan should be in 0ew
"ork by now.
.. Susan should have arrived
in 0ew "ork last week. 9et3s
call her and see what she is up
to.
/. Susan should be in 0ew
"ork by next week. :er new
;ob starts on 'onday.
,. Susan shouldn3t
be in 0ew "ork yet.
.. Susan shouldn3t
have arrived in 0ew
"ork until yesterday.
/. Susan shouldn3t
arrive in 0ew "ork
until next week.
ought to
be
supposed
to
Use of Should
should: Giving advice, opinions
We o#ten use should when o##ering advice or opinions <similar to ought to=:
EC TIP: !eople o#ten say "2hey should..." *sually the "they" is anonymous and means
the government or the company or somebody else 1 but not us>
"ou should see the new ?ames Bond movie. It3s great>
"ou should try to lose weight.
?ohn should get a haircut.
:e shouldn3t smoke. &nd he should stop drinking too.
What should I wear@
2hey should make that illegal.
2here should be a law against that.
!eople should worry more about global warming.
should: Obligation, duty, correctness
&nother use o# should <also similar to ought to= is to indicate a kind o# obligation duty or
correctness o#ten when criticiAing another person:
"ou should be wearing your seat belt. <obligation=
I should be at work now. <duty=
"ou shouldn3t have said that to her. <correctness=
:e should have been more care#ul.
Should you be driving so #ast@
should: Probability, expectation
We use should to indicate that we think something is probable <we expect it to happen=:
&re you ready@ 2he train should be here soon.
B,% is enough. It shouldn3t cost more than that.
9et3s call 'ary. She should have #inished work by now.
should: Conditionals
We sometimes use should <instead o# would= #or the #irst person singular <I= and #irst
person plural <we= o# some conditionals:
I# I lost my ;ob I should have no money.
<I# he lost his ;ob he would have no money.=
We should be grate#ul i# you could send us your latest catalogue.
2his is not a very important distinction. <'ore about the use o# shallCwill and
shouldCwould.=
should: (If I were you I should...
We o#ten use the conditional structure "I# I were you I should..." to give advice.
I# I were you I should complain to the manager.
I# I were you I shouldn3t worry about it.
I shouldn3t say anything i# I were you.
0ote that we can omit "I# I were you..." and ;ust say:
I should complain to the manager.
I shouldn3t worry about it.
I shouldn3t say anything.
In these cases the phrase "I should" really means something like "you should".
should: Pseudo sub!unctive
We o#ten use a special verb #orm called the sub;unctive when talking about events that
somebody wants to happen hopes will happen or imagines happening #or example:
2he president insists that the prime minister attend the meeting.
:owever this is much more common in &merican English. British English speakers
would probably convey the same idea using should:
2he president insists that the prime minister should attend the meeting.
:ere are some more examples:
Subjunctie
typically American English
Using should
typically British English
2he president is insisting that pollution be
reduced.
2he president is insisting that pollution should
be reduced.
2he manager recommended that 'ary
;oin the company.
2he manager recommended that 'ary should
;oin the company.
It is essential that we decide today. It is essential that we should decide today.
It was necessary that everyone arrive on
time.
It was necessary that everyone should arrive
on time.
should: "hy should..# $ %ow should..#
I# we don3t understand <or agree with= something we may use "Why should..@":
Why should it be illegal to commit suicide@ It3s your li#e.
"Why should..@" and ":ow should..@" can also indicate anger or irritation:
":elp me with this." D "Why should I@"
"Where are my keys@" D ":ow should I know@"