The verb should is a modal verb (modal verb) which means he must; should.
Like every modal verb, it works as an auxiliary verb that helps the main verb of the sentence.
Examples:
- they should be back tomorrow. (She should come back tomorrow.)
- students should be more polite. (Students should be more polite.)
Besides should, in English we can also use the structure ought to to express the same idea. The difference between using these two verb forms is that ought to indicates a more formal treatment.
Examples:
- You ought to be more attentive. (You should be more attentive.) - AFFIRMATIVE
- You ought not to drink if you are going to drive. (You shouldn't drink if he's going to drive.) -NEGATIVE
- Ought he to be here this early? (Should he be here so soon?) - INTERROGATIVE
NOTE: note that, unlike what happens with should (which accompanies the main verb in the infinitive without the I'm), ought to is used with infinitive with the I'm.
when to use should?
the modal verb should is used to express advice, suggestion, expectation, probability, and duty.
Examples:
- She should not go out late at night. (She shouldn't go out alone late at night.) – ADVICE
- You should arrive early at the airport. (You must arrive early at the airport.) – TIP
- He should get home in a few minutes. (He should be home in a few minutes.) – EXPECTATION
- I should arrive in 5 minutes. (I should arrive in 5 minutes.) - PROBABILITY
- We should fasten our seatbealts. (We must put on the seat belt.) – DUTY
Note that the use of the modal verb should it has a direct impact on the meaning of the main verbs. In the first sentence, for example, without the use of should the main verb (I'mgo out) just means “to leave” and not “should leave”.
How to use should?
The verb should, like every modal verb, is always accompanied by a main verb in the infinitive without the I'm.
Example: he should be more careful. (He should be more careful.)
In the sentence above, the main verb in the infinitive is to be, however, we removed the I'm and we only use well.
Should can be used in sentences affirmatives, negative and interrogatives.
Look at the table below and learn how to use the verb should in affirmative, negative and interrogative forms. The main verb used as an example is the verb to study (to study).
| AFFIRMATIVE | NEGATIVE | INTERROGATIVE |
|---|---|---|
| I should study you should study He/she/it should study we should study you should study they should study |
I should not/shouldn’t study You should not/shouldn’t study He/she/it should not/shouldn’t study We should not/shouldn’t study You should not/shouldn’t study They should not study |
Should I study? Should you study? Should he/she/it study? Should we study? Should you study? Should they study? |
IMPORTANT
- If so, we use the could for all people, including he/she/it. the rule of Simple Present which requires the addition of the –s for third-person inflections is not applied here.
- To form sentences in negative form, we can use should not or the contracted form shouldn't. The meaning of both forms is the same.
- When making sentences with should in the interrogative form, just change the position of this modal verb in the sentence: unlike what happens in the affirmative, in the interrogative the verb should must be positioned before the subject.
Video
Watch the video below and learn tips for using should.
Exercises
do exercises with should to test your knowledge.
1. You __________________ your cell phone during the class.
a) should use
b) shouldn't use
c) should have used
d) should stop
Correct alternative: b) shouldn’t use
2. She _______________ in an hour or so.
a) should arrive
b) shouldn't arrive
c) should have arrived
d) should not arrive
Correct alternative: a) should arrive
3. It’s too cold. You __________________ the jacket.
a) should not wear
b) shouldn't wear
c) should wear
d) should have worn
Correct alternative: c) should wear
4. He is always sleepy in the morning. He _______________ just late.
a) should stay up
b) should not stay
c) should stay
d) should not stay up
Correct alternative: d) should not stay up
5. If you want to lose weight you ___________.
a) should go on a diet
b) shouldn't go on a diet
c) should not go on a diet
d) should have gone on a diet
Correct alternative: a) should go on a diet.
Learn more about English verbs:
- verb to have
- Verb to be
- English auxiliary verbs
- Phrasal verbs
- Simple Present
- could
- would
- ought to
- How to use the modal might?
