should

should

W1S1 [ʃəd strong ʃud] modal v negative short form shouldn't

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1¦(right thing)¦

2¦(advice)¦

3¦(expected thing)¦

4¦(correct thing)¦

5¦(orders)¦

6¦(after 'that')¦

7¦(possibility)¦

8¦(imagined situations)¦

9¦(requesting/offering)¦

10¦(past intentions/expectations)¦

11 what should I see but something/who should appear but somebody etc

12 you should have seen/heard something

13 how/why should...?

14 I should think/imagine/hope

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[: Old English; Origin: sceolde 'owed, had to']

1.) ¦(RIGHT THING)¦

a) used to say what is the right or sensible thing to do

▪ He shouldn't be so selfish.

▪ Children shouldn't be allowed to play in the street.

▪ 'I don't care what people think.' 'Well, you should.'

▪ Why shouldn't I smoke if I want to?

b) used to say what would have been right or sensible, but was not done

▪ They should have called the police.

2.) ¦(ADVICE)¦

used to give or ask for advice

▪ What should I do? Should I trust him?

▪ You should read his new book.

▪ I should stay in bed if I were you.

3.) ¦(EXPECTED THING)¦

a) used to say that you expect something to happen or be true

▪ It should be a nice day tomorrow.

▪ Try phoning Robert - he should be home by now.

▪ Australia should win this match.

▪ 'Artistic people can be very difficult sometimes.' 'Well, you should know - you married one.'

b) used to say what was expected, but did not happen

▪ It was an easy test and he should have passed, but he didn't.

4.) ¦(CORRECT THING)¦

used to say what is the correct amount, the correct way of doing something etc

▪ Every sentence should start with a capital letter.

▪ What do you mean, there are only ten tickets? There should be twelve.

▪ White wine, not red, should be served with fish.

5.) ¦(ORDERS)¦

formal used in official orders and instructions

▪ Passengers for Flight BA213 should proceed to Gate 12.

6.) ¦(AFTER 'THAT')¦

BrE used in a ↑clause beginning with 'that' after particular adjectives and verbs

▪ It's strange that you should say that.

▪ It is essential that he should have a fair trial.

▪ The residents demanded that there should be an official inquiry.

7.) ¦(POSSIBILITY)¦

used to talk about something that may possibly happen or be true

▪ Naturally, he was nervous in case anything should go wrong.

▪ What if I should fall sick and not be able to work?

should sb/sth do sth

▪ Should you need any help (=if you need any help) , you can always phone me at the office.

8.) ¦(IMAGINED SITUATIONS)¦

formal especially BrE used after 'I' or 'we' to say what you would do if something happened or was true

▪ If anyone treated me like that, I should complain to the manager.

▪ I should be surprised if many people voted for him.

9.) ¦(REQUESTING/OFFERING)¦

formal especially BrE used to politely ask for something, offer to do something, or say that you want to do something

▪ I should be grateful if you could provide me with some information.

▪ 'What can I get you?' 'I should like a long cool drink.'

▪ We should be delighted to help in any way we can.

▪ I should like to thank you all for coming here tonight.

10.)¦(PAST INTENTIONS/EXPECTATIONS)¦

used as the past tense of 'shall' after 'I' or 'we' to say what you intended or expected to do

▪ We knew that we should be leaving the next day.

11.) what should I see but sth/who should appear but sb etc

used to show that you were surprised when you saw a particular thing, when a particular person appeared etc

▪ Just at that moment, who should walk in but old Jim himself.

12.) you should have seen/heard sth

spoken used to emphasize how funny, strange, beautiful etc something was that you saw or heard

▪ You should have seen the look on her face when I told her I'd won first prize.

13.) how/why should...?

used to express surprise that something has happened or that someone has asked you a particular question

▪ Why should anyone want to marry Tony?

▪ Don't ask me. How should I know?

14.) I should think/imagine/hope

spoken

a) used to say that you think or hope something is true, when you are not certain

▪ I shouldn't think they've gone far.

▪ 'I suppose there'll be a lot of complaints?' 'I should imagine so.'

b) used to emphasize that you are not surprised by what someone has told you because you have moral reasons to expect it

▪ 'She doesn't like to hear me swearing.' 'I should think not.'

▪ 'He did apologize.' 'I should hope so, after the way he behaved.'