Cómo se utiliza el verbo should en inglés?

El segundo verbo modal es should. Es muy importante dominarlo, ya que es una de las palabras
que más oirás y utilizarás en inglés. Should se utiliza para recomendar hacer algo y para afirmar si
nos parece que algo es como debería ser o no.

Should se suele traducir al español como “debería” y, también como en español, se suele usar
para aconsejar, opinar y recomendar. También se puede usar para expresar obligación e incluso
expectativas o previsiones. Como todos los verbos modales, su estructura es muy simple.

Se puede expresar una obligación o un consejo con should. Se puede entender como una
obligación moral, o conveniencia en hacer algo, o como la probabilidad de hacer algo o de que
algo suceda.

Ejemplos: She should take the children with her to Houston.

Should and Shouldn't - Use

We use should and shouldn't to give advice or to talk about what we think is right or wrong.

You should means something like I think it is a good idea for you to do it.

You shouldn't means something like I think it is a bad idea for you to do it.

Should is used to express the opinion of a speaker and often follows I think or I don't think.

Examples

You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.

Alice works very long hours. She should to talk to her boss.

- I have an English test tomorrow.

- I shouldn't worry if I were you. You have worked really hard.

- I never have enough money.

- I don't think you should go out so much.

Should - Quick Grammar Note

To give advice to someone you can also say:

I should do it if I were you.

I shouldn't be so rude, if I were you.

When you regret not doing something in the past, you can say:

I shouldn't have spoken to him like that.

I should have apologized earlier.

Tarea a realizar #3

should / shouldn’t

1.- Complete the sentences with should or shouldn’t.

TOMEK I think we’re lost! We (1) ______________have come this way.

GABI Oh no! What (2) ______________ we do?

TOMEK Well, we (3) ______________ worry.

LAURA I think we (4) ______________ ask someone for directions.

GABI That’s a good idea. Who (5) ______________ we ask?

LAURA Tomek!

TOMEK What?

LAURA You (6) ______________ go off on your own.

TOMEK Don’t worry.

LAURA We (7) ______________ stay together.

2.- Write sentences. Use: should / shouldn’t.

We / stay together – We should stay together.

1 You / take a map.

______________________________________________________

2 You / forget to take an umbrella.

______________________________________________________

3 I / be careful.

______________________________________________________

4 They / ask for directions.

______________________________________________________

5 She / get angry.

______________________________________________________

6 We / spend all our money.

______________________________________________________

3.- Write four sentences giving advice to tourists in your town/city.

1 You should ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

2 You should ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

3 You shouldn’t _____________________________________

______________________________________________________

4 You shouldn’t ______________________________________________

4.- Match sentences 1–5 with sentences a–e.

1 What should I visit when I go to London? A.- We don’t want to get lost.

2 You shouldn’t go off on your own. B .-You should visit The London Eye.

3 We should take a map with us. C.- In front of the monument.

4 You shouldn’t forget to take an umbrella. D.- We should stay together.

5 Where should we meet you? E.- It often rains in London.