Should

Should is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use should mainly to:

• give advice or make recommendations
• talk about obligation
• talk about probability and expectation
• express the conditional mood
• replace a subjunctive structure

Structure of Should

subject + should + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").

Notice that:

• Should is invariable. There is only one form of should.
• The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

Use of Should

should: Giving advice, opinions

We often use should when offering advice or opinions (similar to ought to):

• You should see the new James Bond movie. It's great!
• You should try to lose weight.
• John should get a haircut.
• He shouldn't smoke. And he should stop drinking too.
• What should I wear?
• They should make that illegal.
• There should be a law against that.
• People should worry more about global warming.

SHOULD HAVE for Past Advice Games
SHOULD for Present Advice Games
SHOULD for Future Advice games

should: Obligation, duty, correctness

Another use of should (also similar to ought to) is to indicate a kind of obligation, duty or correctness, often when criticizing another person:

• You should be wearing your seat belt. (obligation)
• I should be at work now. (duty)
• You shouldn't have said that to her. (correctness)
• He should have been more careful.
• Should you be driving so fast?

SHOULD HAVE for Past Obligation Games
SHOULD for Present Obligation Games

should: Probability, expectation

We use should to indicate that we think something is probable (we expect it to happen):

• Are you ready? The train should be here soon.
• $10 is enough. It shouldn't cost more than that.
• Let's call Mary. She should have finished work by now.

SHOULD HAVE for Past Expectation/Probability Games
SHOULD for Present Expectation/Probability Games
SHOULD for Future Expectation/Probability Games

should: Conditionals

We sometimes use should (instead of would) for the first person singular (I) and first person plural (we) of some conditionals:

• If I lost my job I should have no money.
  (If he lost his job he would have no money.)
• We should be grateful if you could send us your latest catalogue.

This is not a very important distinction. (More about the use of shall/will and should/would.)

should: (If I were you I should...)

We often use the conditional structure "If I were you I should..." to give advice.

• If I were you, I should complain to the manager.
• If I were you I shouldn't worry about it.
• I shouldn't say anything if I were you.

Note that we can omit "If I were you..." and just say:

• I should complain to the manager.
• I shouldn't worry about it.
• I shouldn't say anything.

In these cases, the phrase "I should" really means something like "you should".

should: Pseudo subjunctive

We often use a special verb form called the subjunctive when talking about events that somebody wants to happen, hopes will happen or imagines happening, for example:

• The president insists that the prime minister attend the meeting.

However, this is much more common in American English. British English speakers would probably convey the same idea using should:

• The president insists that the prime minister should attend the meeting.

Here are some more examples:

should: Why should..? | How should..?

If we don't understand (or agree with) something, we may use "Why should..?":

• Why should it be illegal to commit suicide? It's your life.

"Why should..?" and "How should..?" can also indicate anger or irritation:

• "Help me with this." | "Why should I?"
• "Where are my keys?" | "How should I know?"

Should Quiz >