Should be doing

I'm sure you know about using 'should + infinitive'. This is often used to give someone advice about
the future.

• You should go to the dentist (in the future).

We can also use 'should + be + verb+ing' to give someone advice about something now. It suggests
that it would be better if the person had already started to do this thing and so were in the middle of
the action now.

• You should be studying (now).

• He should be working (he should be in the middle of the action now).

We can also use the negative to suggest that what's happening now isn't good.

• The children shouldn't be watching television now.

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Let's review. Make sentences using 'should + be + verb+ing'.

1. You ___________________________ (sleep).

2. James ___________________________ (not / work) - it's 10pm.

3. He ___________________________ (get) dressed. We need to leave!

4. We ___________________________ (write) the essay now.

5. You ___________________________ (not / talk) to me.

6. The children ___________________________ (do) their homework.

7. He ___________________________ (not / look) at Facebook.

8. You ___________________________ (clean) your room.

9. We ___________________________ (not / listen) to this.

10. They ___________________________ (not / drink) coffee now.

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Answers

1. You should be sleeping.

2. James shouldn't be working - it's 10pm.

3. He should be getting dressed. We need to leave!

4. We should be writing the essay now.

5. You shouldn't be talking to me.

6. The children should be doing their homework.

7. He shouldn't be looking at Facebook.

8. You should be cleaning your room.

9. We shouldn't be listening to this.

10. They shouldn't be drinking coffee now.

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May be freely copied for personal or classroom use.