Should

"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation. Examples:

When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam.

RECOMMENDATION

You should focus more on your family and less on work. ADVICE I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. OBLIGATION By now, they should already be in Dubai. EXPECTATION

Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "should" behaves in different contexts. Modal Use Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. People with high cholesterol should eat low-fat foods. 2. Frank should have eaten low-fat foods. That might have prevented his heart attack. 3. You really should start eating better. Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future 1. Sarah shouldn't smoke so much. It's not good for her health. 2. Sarah shouldn't have smoked so much. That's what caused her health problems. 3. Sarah shouldn't smoke when she visits Martha next week. Martha hates when people smoke in her house. should
OBLIGATION

You can also use:

should
RECOMMENDATION, ADVISABILITY

ought to

I should be at work before 9:00. We should return the video before the video

NO NEGATIVE FORMS

be supposed to

rental store closes.

"SHOULD" CAN ALSO EXPRESS
SOMETHING BETWEEN RECOMMENDATION AND OBLIGATION. "BE SUPPOSED TO" EXPRESSES A SIMILAR IDEA AND CAN EASILY BE USED IN THE PAST OR IN NEGATIVE FORMS.

should
EXPECTATION

1. Susan should be in New York by now. 2. Susan should have arrived in New York last week. Let's call her and see what she is up to. 3. Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday.

1. Susan shouldn't be in New York yet. 2. Susan shouldn't have arrived in New York until yesterday. 3. Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week.

ought to, be supposed to

EXERCISES AND RELATED TOPICS

Modal Exercise 1 can, could, have to, must, might and should Modal Exercise 3 might, must, should, could, have to and ought to Modal Exercise 6 could, might, should and would Modal Exercise 7 modal verb forms Modal Verb Final Test complete review

Uses of Should
In indirect speech Should is the past tense of shall in indirect speech. Direct speech: The Captain said, Players shall assemble at the ground at 4 pm. Indirect speech: The Captain said that players should assemble at the ground at 4 pm. Direct Speech: He said, The scoundrel shall be punished. Indirect speech: He said that the scoundrel should be punished. To express duty or obligation Should is used with pronouns of all the three persons to express duty and obligation. We should respect our parents and teachers. We should help them.

I should go now. You should not say such things to her. He should be punctual. You should pay the fees in time. In conditional clauses Should can be used in conditional clauses expressing possibilities and suppositions. If she should come, ask her to wait. Should it rain, we will not go out. Note that the clause If she should come expresses less likelihood of her coming than the clause if she comes. And hence the sentence means that there is not much chance of her coming. But if she turns up ask her to wait. Should expresses less possibility than shall. I shall be happy to help you. I should be happy to help you. Here the first sentence expresses a greater possibility of my helping you than the second sentence. Should is often used in result clauses which are preceded or followed by a conditional clause expressing an unreal situation. If I were you, I should accept this offer. (Unreal because I am not you.) No John, I shouldnt quit if I were you. After lest Should is the only auxiliary that may be used after lest. The police surrounded the building lest the thieves should escape. Work hard lest you should fail. Should is also used in the expression should like to which is a polite form of making a statement. I should like to thank my colleagues for giving me this opportunity to I should just like to mention that we need to act fast. To express possibility or likelihood Should can be used to express possibility or likelihood. I should be able to win. She should be coming.

Should have + past participle The structure should have + past participle is used to talk about past events that did not happen. It is also used to criticize people for not doing things. She should have asked my permission. (She didnt ask my permission.) You should have helped them. (You didnt help them, but you should have.) Usamos 'should' para expresar grado de posibilidad o probabilidad, as como tambin para obligacin dbil. Significa: debera, tendra que. I should study. I should - debera / tendra que

Affirmative

You should tell Miss Baker the truth. Deberas decirle la verdad a la seorita Baker. We should go to sleep. Deberamos ir a dormir. I should call my mother. Debera llamar a mi madre. They should leave as soon as possible. Ellos deberan salir lo antes posible. She should be doing her homework. Ella debera estar haciendo su tarea. Ben should exercise more. Ben debera ejercitarse ms. It should be here. (Esto) Debera estar aqu.

Negative

You should not say that. No deberas decir eso. Nick shouldn't be working. Nick no debera estar trabajando.

It shouldn't take long. (Esto) No debera tardar mucho.

Interrogative

Should I write Maggie a letter? Debera yo escribirle una carta a Maggie? Should we worry? Deberamos preocuparnos?

Should + have

Charlie should have consulted me. Charlie debera haberme consultado. I shouldn't have eaten so much. Yo no debera haber comido tanto. Danny and Paul should have waited for you. Danny y Paul deberan haberte esperado.