SHOULD
Should is a modal verb.
With modals verbs, there is only one form of it for every subject pronoun:
- I should
- You should
- He should
- She should
- It should
- We should
- They should
There is never an S at the end of should:
- He shoulds study. (NOT CORRECT)
- He should study. (CORRECT)
After Should we have the base form of the infinitive (= verb without ‘To’ e.g. Go instead of To Go)
Should + Verb (base form of infinitive)
- You should go now. (Correct)
- You should to go now. (NOT correct)
- He should wait. (Correct)
- He should waits. (NOT correct)
Example sentences with Should:
- I should eat more vegetables.
- You should take an umbrella.
- He should go to the doctor.
- She should apply for the job.
- It should be fine.
- We should study more.
- They should wait until tomorrow.
One other thing, we do not pronounce the L in the word should. (Listen to the pronunciation of should in our video)
When do we use SHOULD in English?
1. To give advice, a recommendation or a suggestion
This is to say that it is the right thing to do or the correct thing.
- You should see the new Star Wars movie. It’s great!
- He should go to the dentist if his tooth still hurts.
- The test is next week. We should study for it now.
- You should try that new restaurant on Main Street.
2. To express that a situation is likely in the present or in the future. This is a type of expectation or prediction.
- Mary should be at home now. Give her a call.
- He should have the letter now. I sent it last week.
- Our team should win the game on Saturday. (Because we have been training all month so it is our expectation, or prediction that we will win.)
- It should be sunny tomorrow.
3. Expresses an obligation that is not as strong as Must.
Sometimes Should is used instead of Must to make rules, orders or instructions sound more polite.
This may appear more frequently on formal notices or on information sheets.
- Applications should be sent before the 30th.
- He should drive more carefully.
- Everyone should wear a seatbelt in a car.
- You should pay more attention in class.
All of the above example sentences can have must instead of should making the obligation stronger and less polite.
For example: Applications must be sent before the 30th.
4. Something was expected in the past but it didn’t happen (should + have + past participle)
This expresses the idea that the subject did not fulfill their obligation in the past or did not act responsibly.
- Anna is late. She should have arrived by now.
- I should have called Fred this morning but I forgot.
- You should have given your boss the report yesterday when he asked for it.
5. Not fulfilling an obligation (should + be + verb-ing)
This expresses the idea that someone is not fulfilling their obligation or is not acting sensibly right now.
- You should be wearing your seatbelt. (The person isn’t wearing one right now)
- We should be studying for the exam. (We are not studying right now and we should be studying)
6. Sometimes should is replaced by ought to without a change in meaning. Note that ought to sounds more formal and is used less frequently.
- You ought to go home now. (= You should go home now)
- She ought to take her dog for more walks. (= She should take her dog…)
- They ought to stop doing that. (= They should stop doing that)
Shouldn’t
The negative of should is shouldn’t or should not.
We almost always use the contraction shouldn’t in spoken English.
We use shouldn’t to advise not to do something, usually because it is bad or the wrong thing to do.
- You shouldn’t eat that dessert if you are sick.
This is my recommendation not to do something, not to eat that dessert.
- She shouldn’t buy that dress, it’s too big for her.
- You look tired. You shouldn’t work so much.
- He shouldn’t talk to his boss like that.
Notice how all of these sentences are about a recommendation or advice NOT to do something.
Think + should
We do not use: I think + shouldn’t.
We use: I DON’T think + should.
- I think you shouldn’t go there. (NOT correct)
This is NOT correct because we don’t have the negative shouldn’t after I think.
Instead we make the verb THINK negative and say:
- I don’t think you should go there. (Correct)
A couple more examples:
- I don’t think he should eat that.
- I don’t think we should start yet.
Should in Questions
We use should in questions when we want advice, a recommendation, or a suggestion.
Let’s look at this affirmative sentence:
- I should go now.
How can we change this to a question?
We change the order of the modal verb should with the subject.
So the question becomes:
- Should I go now?
A couple more examples…
- Should I wear the green shirt? (I am asking for your advice or recommendation)
We can also have the W words like What, When, Why, etc. before the modal verb.
- What should we do now? (What do you suggest?)
SHOULD Summary Chart
Exercise 1
For each situation, write a sentence with should or shouldn’t + one of the following:
go away for a few days go to bed so late look for another job
put some pictures on the walls take a photo use her car so much
1 Anna needs a change. …………………….
2 Your salary is very low. You …………………….
3 Jack always finds it hard to get up. He …………………….
4 What a beautiful view! You …………………….
5 Sue drives everywhere. She never walks.
6 Dan’s room isn’t very interesting. She …………………….
Answers
1
1 She should go away for a few days.
2 You should look for another job.
3 He shouldn’t go to bed so late.
4 You should take a photo.
5 She shouldn’t use her car so much.
6 He should put some pictures on the walls.
Exercise 2
Read the situations and write sentences with I think / I don’t think … should ….
1 Joe and Catherine are planning to get married. You think it’s a bad idea.
…………………….
2 Jane has a bad cold, but plans to go out tonight. You don’t think this is a good idea. You say to her:
…………………….
3 Peter needs a job. He’s just seen an advert for a job which you think would be ideal for him, but he’s not sure whether to apply or not. You say to him:
…………………….
4 The government wants to increase taxes, but you don’t think this is a good idea.
…………………….
Answers
2
1 I don’t think they should get married.
2 I don’t think you should go out . / I think you should stay at home.
3 I think you should apply for it. / … for the job.
4 I don’t think the government should increase taxes.
Exercise 3
Complete the sentences with should (have) + the verb in brackets.
1 Helen ……………………. the exam. She’s been studying very hard. (pass)
2 You missed a great party last night. ……………………. . (come)
3 We don’t see you enough. You ……………………. and see us more often. (come)
4 I’m in a difficult position. What do you think I ……………………. now? (do)
5 I’m sorry that I didn’t take your advice. I ……………………. what you said. (do)
6 We lost the game yesterday, but we ……………………. . We were the better team. (win)
7 Tanya has a tennis match against Jane tomorrow. Jane ……………………. – she’s much better than Tanya. (win)
8 ‘Is Joe here yet?’ ‘Not yet, but he ……………………. here soon.’ (be)
9 We went the wrong way and got lost. We ……………………. right, not left. (turn)
Answers
3
1 should pass
2 should have come
3 should come
4 should do
5 should have done
6 should have won
7 should win
8 should be
9 should have turned
Exercise 4
Read the situation and write sentences with should/shouldn’t. Some of the sentences are past and some are present.
1 I’m feeling sick. I ate too much.
I …………………….
2 That man on the motorbike isn’t wearing a helmet. That’s dangerous.
He …………………….
3 When we got to the restaurant, there were no free tables. We hadn’t reserved one.
We …………………….
4 The notice says that the shop is open every day from 8.30. It is 9 o’clock now, but the shop isn’t open yet. …………………….
5 The speed limit is 30 miles an hour, but Kate is doing 50.
She …………………….
6 Laura told me her address, but I didn’t write it down. Now I can’t remember the house number.
I …………………….
7 I was driving behind another car. Suddenly, the driver in front stopped without warning and I drove into the back of his car. It wasn’t my fault.
The driver in front …………………….
8 I walked into a wall. I was looking behind me. I wasn’t looking where I was going.
…………………….
Answers
4
1 I shouldn’t have eaten so much.
2 He should be wearing a helmet.
3 We should have reserved a table.
4 The shop should be open (now). / The shop should have opened by now. or It should …
5 She shouldn’t be doing 50. / She shouldn’t be driving so fast. / She should be driving more slowly.
6 I should have written down her address. / I should have written her address down. or I should have written it down.
7 The driver in front shouldn’t have stopped without warning. / … shouldn’t have stopped so suddenly.
8 I should have been looking where I was going. / I shouldn’t have been looking behind me.
sit close to the TV — никуда не подошло.
1. Maria wants to learn to swim.She should get some lessons.
2. I don’t feel well today.You should consult the doctor. — Проконсультироваться с врачом, сходить на приём.
3. I may be late for the lesson,I am afraid. I’ve been waiting for the tram for 20 minutes already but it hasn’t come yet. What should I do? You shouldn’t sit up late. — Не спать допоздна.
4. I have too much work to do. It’s 11 o’clock already. I think I’ll have to work for 2-3 hours. You should get another job. — Найти другую работу.
5. She can’t get home.She has lost the keys. She should call the police. — Позвонить в полицию.
6. There is a terrible smell in the kitchen.You should air the room. — Проветрить комнату.
7. He wants to be strong and healthy. He should take up sports. — Заняться спортом.
8. Bob and Tim are really nervous about their exams. They shouldn’t worry so much. — Так беспокоиться.
to Write sentences with should/shouldn’t
and must/mustn’t and the words in brackets.
1. It’s very cold outside. (coat / catch)
You should wear a coat or you’ll catch a cold.
2 \’m sometimes tired in my Maths class. (get /
more sleep)
3 I never remember what homework I have to do.
(concentrate)
4. I’ve got a really important exam tomorrow. (go to
bed / late)
5 I usually get very hungry before lunch. (snack)
6 Olivia really wants me to help her. (call / her later)
Светило науки — 54 ответа — 0 раз оказано помощи
Ответ:
2You Should get more sleep
3You Should concentrait
4I shouldn’t go to bed late
5 You Should to snack
6 You shouldn’t call her later
Объяснение:
Поставь Лайк на ответ я старался
For each situation,write a sentence with should/shouldn’t and the phrases in the box.
————————————————
get another job. call the police.
sit close to the TV. consult the doctor
sit up late. air the room
worry so much. Take up sports
——»’—————————————
1. Maria wants to learn to swim.She should get some lessons.
2. I don’t feel well today.You …..
3. I may be late for the lesson,I am afraid. I’ve been waiting for the tram for 20 minutes already but it hasn’t come yet. What should I do?
You ……
4. I have too much work to do. It’s 11 o’clock already. I think I’ll have to work for 2-3 hours.
You …..
5. She can’t get home.She has lost the keys. She …..
6. There is a terrible smell in the kitchen.You …….
7. He wants to be strong and healthy. He ……..
8. Bob and Tim are really nervous about their exams.
They ………