Unit 9 Should and shouldn't

 

Modal verbs: 'Should'

" Should " is a modal helper . It has several uses ( conditional , giving advice , duty or weak obligation ...).

As an auxiliary verb it shares the characteristics of modals:

- It is followed by an infinitive verb without "to", except be able to, need to, have to and ought to.

- The third person singular does not have -s in the present simple.

- You do not need to add the auxiliary do / does for the question and negative form.

- It does not have compound or progressive times.

- It does not have an infinitive.

Affirmative

Subject + should + infinitive verb without "to" + ...

The verb is conjugated the same for all people.

Example:

Long way	Short form
I should work	I'd work
You should work	You'd work
He should work	He'd work
She should work	She'd work
It should work	It'd work
We should work	We'd work
You should work	You'd work
They should work	They'd work

 

Negative

Subject + should + not + verb in the infinitive without "to" + ...

Long way	Short form
I should not work	I shouldn't work
You should not work	You shouldn't work
He should not work	He shouldn't work
She should not work	She shouldn't work
It should not work	It shouldn't work
We should not work	We shouldn't work
You should not work	You shouldn't work
They should not work	They shouldn't work

 

Interrogative

Affirmative

Should + subject + verb in the infinitive without "to" + ...?

Negative

Should + subject + not + v. in infinitive without "to" + ...?

Shouldn't + subject + v. in infinitive without "to" + ...?

Example:

 

Affirmative	Negative
Should I work ...?	Should I not work ...?	Shouldn't I work ...?
Should you work ...?	Should you not work ...?	Shouldn't you work ...?
Should he work ...?	Should he not work ...?	Shouldn't he work ...?
Should she work ...?	Should she not work ...?	Shouldn't she work ...?
Should it work ...?	Should it> not work ...?	Shouldn't it work ...?
Should we work ...?	Should we not work ...?	Shouldn't we work ...?
Should you work ...?	Should you not work ...?	Shouldn't you work ...?
Should they work ...?	Should they not work ...?	Shouldn't they work ...?

 

Uses of the modal "should"

 one To indicate moral duty or mitigated obligation or to give advice . It is translated as present, past imperfect or conditional. It has less tax force than " must " and " have to ".

I should study more.

I / should / should study more.

He should be at school before 9.00.

Must / should / should be at school before 9.

You should go to the doctor.

I should / should / should go to the doctor.

It can be used to indicate that something should be done in the future or to express that something should have been done in the past and was not done (with the structure should + have + past participle )

You should go to the doctor tomorrow.

You should go to the doctor tomorrow (future) .

I should have studied more.

I should have studied more (past) .

 2 To express assumption or deduction .

It shouldn't be very expensive.

It shouldn't be very expensive.

I've left two hours ago. He should be at home now.

He left two hours ago. He must be home by now.

This idea can be in the future or in the past ( should + have + past participle ).

She should arrive next week.

It should arrive next week.

She should have arrived last week.

It should have arrived last week.

 3 For suggestions in interrogative sentences (it is less categorical than ' shall ').

Should I go to the police?

Should we go to the police?

 4 As an auxiliary in conditionals in the first person singular and plural ( I , we ), although the use of ' would ' is more common .

I should go if I had more time.

I'd go if I had more time.

We should invite you if we had enough money.

We would invite you if we had enough money.