EMOTIONAL SHOULD
Should may have a peculiar function: it may be used for emotional colouring. In this
function it may be called the emotional should.
It is used in the following cases:
Special emphatic constructions
 rhetorical questions beginning with
why
E. g. Why should I help him? (Чому це
раптом я повинен йому допомагати?)
 object clauses beginning with why
E. g. I don’t understand why we shouldn’t
be friends. (Я не розумію, чому би нам не
потоваришувати.)
 appositive clauses beginning with
why after the word reason
E. g. There is no reason why they shouldn’t
get on very well together. (Немає причини
для того, щоб вони не жили в злагоді.)
 constructions of the following kind:
E. g. The door opened and who should
come in but Tom. (Двері відкрилися, і хто
би ви думали зайшов? Ніхто інший, як
Том.)
E. g. As I was crossing the street, whom
should I meet but Aunt Ann herself. (Коли
я переходила вулицю, з ким би ви думали
я зустрілася? Ні з ким іншим, як з тіткою
Анною власною персоною.)
 set phrase
How should I know? (Звідки ж мені знати!
Як я маю знати!)
Certain type of subordinate clauses
(where should + infinitive is
interchangeable with a simple predicate in
the Indicative Mood)
 object clauses following the principle
clause with it as a formal subject
E. g. It is wonderful that he should know so
many interesting things. (Як чудово, що
він знає так багато цікавого.)
In the principle clause we can find
 such expressions as: it is wonderful, it
is natural, it is strange, it is singular,
it is absurd, it is terrible, it is
monstrous, it outraged me, it startled
me etc.
 interrogative and negative
expressions as: Is it possible? Is it
likely? Is it probable? It is not
(im)possible? It is not (un)likely? It is
not (im)probable.
The rules of the sequence of tenses are not
observed here. If the action of the
subordinate clause precedes that of the
principle clause, the perfect infinitive is used
after should.
E. g. It is natural that she should have asked
that question. (Абсолютно природньо, що
вона задала таке запитання.)
E. g. It was strange that he should not
have mentioned it at all. (Було дивно, що
він взагалі не згадав про це.)
 in object clauses after expressions of
regret, surprise, sometimes pleasure
or displeasure
E. g. I am sorry that you should think so
badly of me. (Шкода, що ви про мене
такої поганої думки.)
E. g. He was a little surprised that Ann
should speak so frankly about it. (Його
 трохи здивував той факт, що Анна так
відкрито про це говорила.)
The rules of sequence of tenses are not
observed here either. The perfect infinitive is
used to show that the action of the
subordinate clause precedes that of the
principle one.

 constructions of the following kind:

E. g. That it should come to this! (До чого
ж дійшла справа!)
To think that it should come to this!
(Тільки уявіть собі, до чого дійшла
справа!)
To think that it should have happened to
me! (Уявіть собі, що таке трапилося зі
мною!)

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Comment on the use of should for the sake of emotional colouring.
Pay attention to the structure of the sentences and the word combination it is found in.
Translate the following sentences into Ukrainian.
1. Why should you be different from other men? 2. But why should he take the scandal
on himself? It was not fair! 3. They only want their independence, and why shouldn’t they
have it? 4. “Do you see much of Randall?” “He practically lives here. But you knew?” “No,”
said Hugh. He was surprised and annoyed. “Why ever should I know?” 5. What do you think
ought to be done? – Done? How should I know? 6. “Fresh air!” exclaimed James. “What
should I do with fresh air?” 7. Strange that the dog should die just now! 8. Ironical that
Soames should come down here – to this house, built for himself! 9. He heard the nurse
crying over there by the fire; curious that she, a stranger, should be the only one of them
who cried! 10. It’s very interesting that you should say that, Edward – very interesting. 11.
It struck her bitterly that she, who had been his first adored, should have to scheme to see
him. 12. … it annoyed him very much that his companion, who was also tired, should grow
more cheerful. 13. It’s very strange that he should have told you the truth! 14. … suddenly
he heard his name called from behind, and who should ride up to him on either side but Bill
Dennant and Antonia herself!

Exercise 2. Pay attention to the use of should in subordinate clauses after some
verbs and expressions. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.
1. It is necessary that I should see her before you do. 2. It is normal that there should
be a period of rebuilding after war. 3. “She has six children,’ said Aunt July, “it’s very
proper that she should be careful.” 4. It’s essential that you should find out to whom those
orders are going. 5. I mean if we are to develop Diesel planes it’s vital that we should have
our own magnesium supplies. 6. He demanded that work should start at once. 7. We
recommended that he should be chosen our delegate. 8. He ordered that they should all leave
the house. 9. He suggested that the working hours should be reduced. 10. The doctor insists
that the children should be sent to the country. 11. If she should phone I will tell her where
you are. 12. Should you require anything more, please ring the bell for the attendant.

Exercise 3. Fill in the blanks with must, should or need.

1. I’m suggesting that you … marry me, Midge. 2. She … be picking cherries in the
orchard, tell her to come into the house. 3. “Well,” said Emily with calm, “you … not get
into such fusses when we tell you things.” 4. Is it necessary, do you think, that the police …
know about it? 5. You … not be afraid of him. He’s a kind old man. 6. It is essential that he
… be prepared for it. 7. Soft music filled the room. “That … be a gramophone record,”
thought he. 8. I propose that the prize … be divided. 9. Oh, I don’t know. It’s really rather
odd that he … ever have been taking her to the Ball. 10. You … have seen that film when it
was here last week. 11. It is strange that you … remember the place. 12. Why … not I talk to
Catherine? 13. Poor boy! He … have suffered so. 14. You … not answer all my questions if
you don’t want to. 15. Why … you say such disagreeable things? 16. Go upstairs at once.
You … change your wet clothes. 17. It was only proper that Dora, who was young and
healthy, … give her seal to that old lady. 18. I think I’ll come on time, but if I … be late,
please keep a seat for me. 19. He ordered that the gate … be locked. 20. She confiscated the
morning papers so that the children … not see them. 21. You … not wake up before seven
o’clock. We’ll start at half past eight. 22. I was just wondering if my wife was here. – No,
she isn’t here. Why … she be? 23. You … not work so hard after your illness. 24. Henrietta
suggested to Gerda that they … go and look at the kitchen garden.

Exercise 4. Translate the following sentences into English using the emotional
should.
1. Ось я і подумав, що це ж абсурд, ми живемо поряд і не розмовляємо. 2. Як
дивно, що він нічого про це не сказав. 3. Неймовірно, щоб Джон був настільки
зайнятим, щоб за весь тиждень не знайти часу зустрітися з нею. 4. Я не бачу підстав,
чому вони повинні сердитися. 5. А навіщо мені говорити тобі його ім’я. 6. Мені шкода,
що ви про мене такої поганої думки. 7. Не знаю, чому він не хоче зустрітися з
дядьком. 8. Виглядало дивним, що дівчина її віку була настільки байдужою до вечірок.
9. Нарешті він вирішив повернутися додому. Можливо, він дізнається там новини про
Мері. 10. Мені дуже шкода, що мій брат винуватий у цьому. 11. Як так трапилося, що
ти привів його з собою? І чому він раптом захотів сюди прийти? 12. Він був дуже
задоволений, що вона назвала дитину на його честь. 13. Що могло з ним трапитися?
Уявити собі не можу, чому він так запізнюється? 14. Безглуздо, що вона мала рацію.
15. Дивно, що вона вибрала цього чоловіка собі за пару. 16. Мене розсердив той факт,
що він виявився таким безхарактерним. 17. Йому, здавалося, лестило, що хтось захотів
почитати дещо з того, що він написав. 18. І все таки вона не розуміла, чому вона
повинна піти геть. 19. Вона почала розповідати чоловікові про Теда, але раптом
зупинилася і сказала: “Я просто сама не знаю, навіщо я надокучаю тобі розповідями
про нього.”

Exercise 5. Fill in the blanks with the verbs can, may, must, should, ought to, need,
have to, to be to.
 1. At this time Strickland … have been nearly forty-seven. 2. “Real friends … have
everything in common,” Miller used to say. 3. Surely he … have stayed with her on her
birthday! 4. She … never have married him! 5. You … not bother with these things here for
you are among friends. 6. If anything … happen to me, my wife will be left very badly off.
7. That young American chap … have overheard something too. 8. Tell him I’d wait twenty
years for him if I … to. 9. This … be the very last dinner he would ever eat at Ella’s. 10. He
… go to business, why … other people stay in bed merely because it was dark and foggy?
11. I … have insisted on going by myself and who knows I … have got a job when I got to
London. 12. You … not afraid. I never cry. 13. Why … you and I talk about it? 14. He
suggested that I … stay with him for a few days so that he … show me something of the
surrounding country. 15. It … be a tiny path, or it … extend for miles. 16. I think I … find
some girl, who’ll just look after me. 17. Well, my dear fellow, you … not eat as it you were
going to eat it all. 18. Harris said there … have been twenty people following him in all.
19. It was of himself and of his own future, that he … think. 20. It’s not my secret. But I’ll
see what I … do, because I think both you and John … be told. 21. I … say that you … have
shown more consideration. 22. It’s absurd to have a hard and fast rule about what one …
read and what one … not.