Should

UNIT 32  Should

A.   Study this example:

Tom has just come back from the movies:

Ann: Hello, Tom. Did you enjoy the movie?
Tom: Yes, it was great. You should go and see it.

Tom is advising Ann to go and see the movie. "You should go" means that i would be a  good thing to do. We often use should (do) when we say what we think is a good thing to do or the right thing to do.

• The government should do something about the economy.

• "Should we invite Sue to the party?''  "Yes, I think we should''

"You shouldn't do something" means that it is not a good thing to do:

• You've been coughing a lot lately. You shouldn't smoke so much.

• Tom really shouldn't go out. He has too much homework to do.

Should is not as strong as must:

• You should stop smoking. (It would be a good idea.)

• You must stop smoking. (It is necessary that you stop.)                         

B.   We often use should when we ask for or give an opinion about something. Often we use I think/I don't think/do you think?:

• I think the government should do something about the economy.

• I don't think you should work so hard.

• "Do you think I should apply for this job?"   "Yes, I think you should''

C.   We also use should to say something is not "right" or not what we expect:

• The price on this package is wrong. It says 65 but it should be 50.

• Those children shouldn't be playing. They should be at school.

D.   For the past, we use should have (done) to say that someone did the wrong thing:

• The party was great. You should have come. Why didn't you?

• I feel sick. I shouldn't have eaten so much chocolate.

• She shouldn't have been listening to our conversation. It was private.

E.   We also use should to say that something will probably happen:

A: Do you think you'll be home late tonight?

B: I don't think so. I should be home at the usual time.

Here, "I should be home'' means "I will probably be home." You can use should to say what will probably happen.
 

F.   You can use ought to instead of should in the sentences:

• It's really a good movie. You ought to go and see it.

• She's been studying very hard, so she ought to pass the exam.