Modal Verbs : Should

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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

subject + should + main verb

The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").

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Notice that:

* Should is invariable. There is only one form of should.
* The main verb is always the bare infinitive.

NOTE:

Modal%20Verbs%20%20Should%202.gif


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Use of Should

should: Giving 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.

NOTE:

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should: 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: 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: Conditionals

We sometimes use should (instead of would) for the first person singular (I) and first person plural (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: (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: 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 would probably convey the same idea using should:

* The president insists that the prime minister should attend the meeting.

Here are some more examples:

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should: Why should..? | How should..?

If we don't understand (or agree with) something, we may use "Why should..?":

* Why should it be illegal to commit suicide? It's your life.

"Why should..?" and "How should..?" can also indicate anger or irritation:

* "Help me with this." | "Why should I?"
* "Where are my keys?" | "How should I know?"
 
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