“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
| I should go |
| you should go |
| he should go |
| she should go |
| it should go |
| we should go |
| you should go |
| they should go |
Negative form
Full form:
subject + “should not” + base form
Contracted form:
subject + “shouldn’t” + base form
| Full form | Contracted form |
|---|---|
| I should not go | I shouldn’t go |
| you should not go | you shouldn’t go |
| he should not go | he shouldn’t go |
| she should not go | she shouldn’t go |
| it should not go | it shouldn’t go |
| we should not go | we shouldn’t go |
| you should not go | you shouldn’t go |
| they should not go | they shouldn’t go |
Question form
“Should” + subject + base form … ?
| Should I go …. ? |
| Should you go …. ? |
| Should he go …. ? |
| Should she go …. ? |
| Should it go …. ? |
| Should we go …. ? |
| Should you go …. ? |
| Should they go …. ? |
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
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