SHOULD is a modal verb.
But do you know how to use should correctly? In this blog I’m going to break it down for you. Let’s get started!
Rules:
1.There is no 3rd person ‘s’:
He shoulds do his homework.
☑ He should do his homework.
2.A modal verb is followed by an infinitive:
My flatmate should cleaning her mess.
☑My flatmate should clean her mess.
3.There is no ‘to’ with the infinitive:
I should to call my mum later.
☑ I should call my mum later.
4.It is not used with another modal verb:
Your parcel should might arrive today.
☑ Your parcel should arrive today.
5.The negative of ‘should’ is ‘shouldn’t’ (should not):
You don’t should go there.
☑ You shouldn’t go there.
Let’s divide the uses of ‘should’ into 5 parts.
1.to speak about an obligation
2.to speak about something that is supposed to be a certain way
3.to give advice or a suggestion
4.to speak about past regrets
5.to criticize someone’s actions
#1 to speak about an obligation
Remember, SHOULD is a weaker obligation than MUST.
I should call my mum later. It’s her birthday.
This is a personal obligation.
My son has been sleeping for hours. I should really check on him.
This is a personal obligation.
You should cancel the meeting if you’re not feeling well.
This is a professional obligation.
As the boss, you should really tell your staff about the upcoming redundancies.
This is a professional obligation.
→ Question: Should I dress formally for this meeting?
#2 to speak about something that is supposed to be a certain way
Five books are here, but there should be six. I wonder where the other one is.
There are supposed to be six books.
My two-year-old daughter should be speaking better, but she isn’t. I am a bit worried about her.
She is supposed to have better speaking skills.
A: Hey honey, where are the car keys?
B: They should be in the kitchen drawer.
This is where the keys are supposed to be.
I already said all of this to my wedding planner. There should be ten tables for eight people, not eight tables for ten people.
The table arrangement is supposed to be this way.
→ Question: Should I always email the client after a meeting?
#3 to give advice
A: I need to buy a bike, but all the ones I’ve seen are too expensive.
B: You should look online for a second-hand bike.
A: I have a date with Jose tonight and I don’t know what to wear.
B: Oh, you should definitely wear your black dress with the red flowers.
A: I’m so stressed. I can’t sleep at night.
B: You should try drinking a glass of wine and reading a book. It always works for me.
A: My landlord wants to increase my rent again.
B: You should really seek legal advice.
→ Question: Should I lose some weight?
#4 to speak about past regrets
We use the formation ‘should have + past participle’.
- I should have studied English, not French when I was in school.
I regret studying a different language when I was younger. - I shouldn’t have eaten all of this ice-cream. Now I feel fat.
I regret eating a lot of ice-cream. - I should have married Heather when I had the chance.
I regret not marrying Heather. - We should have left the house earlier. Now we are going to be late.
I regret not leaving the house sooner.
→ Question: Should I have told the children that Santa isn’t real sooner?
#5 to criticize someone’s actions
We use the formation ‘should have + past participle’.
You should have told me that you were going to be late. I’ve been waiting for hours!
I am criticizing your action.
You shouldn’t have stayed up so late. You look so tired.
I am criticizing your action.
Everybody should have said ‘thank you’, but no one did.
I am criticizing everyone’s actions.
The government should have acted sooner on this matter.
I am criticizing the government’s actions.
→ Question: Should my son’s school have taught less on religion?
