Modal verb SHOULD – form, use and meaning

“should” is a modal verb.

Pronunciation strong form:   /ʃʊd/
Pronunciation weak form:   /ʃəd/

In this lesson, you will learn:

• the form of should.
• the different uses and meanings:
  • to describe what is ideal, desired or preferred
  • to give advice or make a suggestion
  • to describe what is likely to happen in the future
  • to say thank you

Form

Affirmative form

subject + should + base form

Negative form

Full form:
subject + “should not” + base form

Contracted form:
subject + “shouldn’t” + base form

Question form

“Should” + subject + base form … ?

Uses and meaning of “should”

There are many uses and meanings of “should” in the English language. Here are the most common ones:

to describe what is ideal, desired or preferred

We use “should” to describe the situation that we think is ideal or preferred.

Examples:

Context: The sales tax is 25%
Mark: The government should reduce the sales tax. It’s too high.

Context: There are 50 prisons. They are all full.
Jane: I think that there should be more prisons.

to give advice or make a suggestion

We also use the modal “should” to give advice to someone or to make a suggestion. This is probably the most common use of “should“.

Examples:

Mark: I’m exhausted.
Jane: You should go to bed!
(Jane is advising Mark to go to bed.)

Sarah: I feel ill.
David: You should go to the doctor.
(David is advising Sarah to go to the doctor.)

Mark: I really don’t like my boss.
Jane: You should look for another job.
(Jane is advising Mark to look for another job.)

We use “should” in the question form to suggest something we aren’t sure about:

Examples:

Mark: Let’s go to the concert.
Jane: Should we invite Sarah and David?
Mark: Yes, good idea.

Sarah: Are you cold? Should I turn the heating on?
David: No, I’m fine.

to describe what is likely to happen in the future

We use “should” when we are expecting something to happen in the future. Something is due to happen.

Examples:

Manager: Where is Mark? He’s late!
Jane: He should be here in 5 minutes.

Mark: The weather should be nice tomorrow.
Jane: Let’s go to the beach.

Sarah: I’m hungry. When will dinner be ready?
David: It should be ready soon.

to say thank you

Expression: “You shouldn’t have.”
Meaning: Thank you. It wasn’t necessary to buy me a gift.

We often say “You shouldn’t have” when someone gives us a gift. We are grateful for the gift but we are perhaps also a bit embarrassed.

Example:

Mark: I got you some perfume from Paris.
Jane: Oh Mark, you shouldn’t have!

More English lessons

Modal verb WOULD – Form, use and meaning
Modal verb COULD – Form, use and meaning
Prepositions of time IN, ON and AT
Giving examples in English with “SUCH AS”
IELTS preparation

English video lesson

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