Modal verb SHOULD – form, use and meaning

“should” is a modal verb.

Pronunciation strong form:   /ʃʊd/
Pronunciation weak form:   /ʃəd/

In this lesson, you will learn:

• the form of should.
• the different uses and meanings:
  • to describe what is ideal, desired or preferred
  • to give advice or make a suggestion
  • to describe what is likely to happen in the future
  • to say thank you

Form

Affirmative form

subject + should + base form

I should go

you should go

he should go

she should go

it should go

we should go

you should go

they should go

 

 

Negative form

Full form:
subject + “should not” + base form

Contracted form:
subject + “shouldn’t” + base form

Full form	Contracted form
I should not go	I shouldn’t go
you should not go	you shouldn’t go
he should not go	he shouldn’t go
she should not go	she shouldn’t go
it should not go	it shouldn’t go
we should not go	we shouldn’t go
you should not go	you shouldn’t go
they should not go	they shouldn’t go

 

 

Question form

“Should” + subject + base form … ?

Should I go …. ?

Should you go …. ?

Should he go …. ?

Should she go …. ?

Should it go …. ?

Should we go …. ?

Should you go …. ?

Should they go …. ?

 

Uses and meaning of “should”

There are many uses and meanings of “should” in the English language. Here are the most common ones:

to describe what is ideal, desired or preferred

We use “should” to describe the situation that we think is ideal or preferred.

Examples:

Context: The sales tax is 25%
Mark: The government should reduce the sales tax. It’s too high.

Context: There are 50 prisons. They are all full.
Jane: I think that there should be more prisons.

to give advice or make a suggestion

We also use the modal “should” to give advice to someone or to make a suggestion. This is probably the most common use of “should“.

Examples:

Mark: I’m exhausted.
Jane: You should go to bed!
(Jane is advising Mark to go to bed.)

Sarah: I feel ill.
David: You should go to the doctor.
(David is advising Sarah to go to the doctor.)

Mark: I really don’t like my boss.
Jane: You should look for another job.
(Jane is advising Mark to look for another job.)

We use “should” in the question form to suggest something we aren’t sure about:

Examples:

Mark: Let’s go to the concert.
Jane: Should we invite Sarah and David?
Mark: Yes, good idea.

Sarah: Are you cold? Should I turn the heating on?
David: No, I’m fine.

to describe what is likely to happen in the future

We use “should” when we are expecting something to happen in the future. Something is due to happen.

Examples:

Manager: Where is Mark? He’s late!
Jane: He should be here in 5 minutes.

Mark: The weather should be nice tomorrow.
Jane: Let’s go to the beach.

Sarah: I’m hungry. When will dinner be ready?
David: It should be ready soon.

to say thank you

Expression: “You shouldn’t have.”
Meaning: Thank you. It wasn’t necessary to buy me a gift.

We often say “You shouldn’t have” when someone gives us a gift. We are grateful for the gift but we are perhaps also a bit embarrassed.

Example:

Mark: I got you some perfume from Paris.
Jane: Oh Mark, you shouldn’t have!

More English lessons

Modal verb WOULD – Form, use and meaning
Modal verb COULD – Form, use and meaning
Prepositions of time IN, ON and AT
Giving examples in English with “SUCH AS”
IELTS preparation

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