Modal verbs

should
Should

Should is an auxiliary verb - a modal

auxiliary verb.
We use should mainly to:
give advice or make recommendations
talk about obligation
talk about probability and expectation
express the conditional mood
replace a subjunctive structure
Structure of should
The basic structure for should is:

Note that:
The auxiliary verb should is invariable. There is only one
form: should
The main verb is usually in the base form (He should go).

auxiliary
subject + verb + main verb
should
 Look at the basic structure again, with positive,
negative and question sentences:
Note that the main verb is sometimes in the form:
•have + past participle (He should have gone.)
•be + -ing (He should be going.)

auxiliary main verb

  subject should not base

+ He should   work.

- You should not go.

? Should we   help?
Use of should
should for advice, opinions
We often use should when offering advice or
opinions (similar to ought to):
You should see the new James Bond movie. It's great!
You should try to lose weight.
John should get a haircut.
He shouldn't smoke. And he should stop drinking too.
What should I wear?
They should make that illegal.
There should be a law against that.
People should worry more about global warming.
People often say "They should...do sthg."
Usually, the "they" is anonymous and means
the government, or the company, or
somebody else - but not us!
Here are some examples:
They should fix this road.
They should have more staff in this shop.
They should have abolished this tax years
ago.
should for obligation, duty, correctness
Another use of should (also similar to ought
to) is to indicate a kind of obligation, duty or
correctness, often when criticizing another
person:
You should be wearing your seat belt.
(obligation)
I should be at work now. (duty)
You shouldn't have said that to her.
(correctness)
He should have been more careful.
Should you be driving so fast?
should for probability, expectation

We use should to indicate that we think something

is probable (we expect it to happen):
Are you ready? The train should be here soon.
$10 is enough. It shouldn't cost more than that.
Let's call Mary. She should have finished work by
now.
should for conditionals

We sometimes use should (instead of

would) for the first person singular and
plural (I, we) of some conditionals:
If I lost my job I should have no money.
(If he lost his job he would have no money.)
We should be grateful if you could send us
your latest catalogue.
This is not a very important distinction.
(More about the use of shall/will and
should/would.)
should for If I were you I should...

We often use the conditional structure "If I were you

I should..." to give advice.
If I were you, I should complain to the manager.
If I were you, I shouldn't worry about it.
I shouldn't say anything if I were you.
Note that we can omit "If I were you..." and just say:
I should complain to the manager.
I shouldn't worry about it.
I shouldn't say anything.
In these cases, the phrase "I should" really means
something like "you should".
should for pseudo subjunctive

We often use a special verb form called the

subjunctive when talking about events that
somebody wants to happen, hopes will happen or
imagines happening, for example:
The president insists that the prime minister attend
the meeting.
However, this is much more common in American
English. British English speakers often convey the
same idea using should:
The president insists that the prime minister should
attend the meeting.
 Here are some more examples:

subjunctive using should

typically American English typically British English

The president is insisting that The president is insisting that

pollution be reduced. pollution should be reduced.

The manager recommended that The manager recommended that

Mary join the company. Mary should join the company.

It is essential that we should decide

It is essential that we decide today. today.

It was necessary that everyone arrive It was necessary that everyone should
on time. arrive on time.
should for Why should..?
If we don't understand (or agree with) something, we
may use Why should..?, like this:
Why should it be illegal to commit suicide? It's your
life.
Why should..? and How should..? can also indicate
anger or irritation:
A: Help me with this. B: Why should I?
A: Where are my keys? B: How should I know?
Quiz

Function of should Example sentence

a.  to give advice
b. to say what is (morally) right or
wrong
c.  to say what you expect to happen
(or have happened)
d.  to express a wish or desire
e. to make a polite request
f. to express the importance (etc.) of
an action
g.  to express shall in indirect speech
h. in if clauses
1.  She asked me when she should
come.
2.  I should be grateful if you could
give me your reply by Monday.
3. You shouldn't drink so much beer.
4.  I should like to be rich and
famous.
5. Young criminals should not be put
in prison.
6.  If you should bump into Susan,
please ask her to call me.
7. She should have arrived by now.
8. It is vital that you should be there
on time.
Answers

Function of should Example sentence

a.  to give advice 3. You shouldn't drink so much beer.

b. to say what is (morally) right or wrong 5. Young criminals should not be put in
prison.
c.  to say what you expect to happen (or 7. She should have arrived by now.
have happened)

d.  to express a wish or desire * 4.  I should like to be rich and famous.

e. to make a polite request 2.  I should be grateful if you could give

me your reply by Monday.

f. to express the importance (etc.) of an 8. It is vital that you should be there on

action ** time.

g.  to express shall in indirect speech 1.  She asked me when she should come.

h. in if clauses *** 6.  If you should bump into Susan, please

ask her to call me.
* - More common is: I would like to be rich and
famous.
** - American English is more likely to use a
subjunctive than should in sentences like this.
E.g. It is vital that you be there on time or It is
not necessary that he come to the meeting.
*** - The word should makes it clear that the
speaker is less certain that Susan will "be
bumped into" than if she (the speaker) had
said: If you bump into Susan...