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Unit 33 · Modals

should 1

Study

A

You should do something = it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do.

You can use should to give advice or to give an opinion:

›

You look tired. You should go to bed.

›

The government should do more to improve schools.

›

a: Should we invite Stephanie to the party? b: Yes, I think we should.

›

The man on the motorbike should be wearing a helmet.

You shouldn’t do something = it isn’t a good thing to do:

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You shouldn’t believe everything you read in newspapers.

We often use should with I think / I don’t think / Do you think … ? :

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I think the government should do more to improve schools.

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I don’t think you should work so hard.

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a: Do you think I should apply for this job? b: Yes, I think you should.

Should is not as strong as must or have to:

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You should apologise. (= it would be a good thing to do)

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You must apologise. / You have to apologise. (= you have no alternative)

B

We use should when something is not right or what we expect:

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Where’s Tina? She should be here by now. (= she isn’t here yet, and this is not normal)

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The price on this packet is wrong. It should be £2.50, not £3.50.

We also use should to say that we expect something to happen:

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Helen has been studying hard for the exam, so she should pass. (= I expect her to pass)

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There are plenty of hotels in the town. It shouldn’t be hard to find a place to stay. (= I don’t expect it to be hard)

C

You should have done something = you didn’t do it, but it would have been a good thing to do:

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You missed a great party last night. You should have come. Why didn’t you? (= you didn’t come, but it would have been good to come)

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I wonder why they’re so late. They should have been here long ago.

You shouldn’t have done something = you did it, but it wasn’t a good thing to do:

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I’m feeling sick. I shouldn’t have eaten so much. (= I ate too much)

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She shouldn’t have been listening to our conversation. It was private. (= she was listening)

Compare should (do) and should have (done):

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You look tired. You should go to bed now.

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You went to bed very late last night. You should have gone to bed earlier.

D

ought to …

You can use ought to instead of should in the sentences on this page. We say ‘ought to do’ (with to):

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Do you think I ought to apply for this job? (= Do you think I should apply … ?)

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Jack ought not to go to bed so late. (= Jack shouldn’t go …)

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It was a great party last night. You ought to have come. (= You should have come)

should 2 ➜ Unit 34 should and had better ➜ Unit 35B Modal verbs (can/could/will/would etc.) ➜ Appendix 4

Exercises (4)

0/4 exercises checked
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33.1

For each situation, write a sentence with should or shouldn’t + one of the following:

go away for a few daysstay up so latelook for another jobput some pictures on the wallstake a pictureworry so much
  1. 1
    Anna needs a change.
    She a few days.example
  2. 2
    Your salary is very low.
    You .
  3. 3
    Jack always finds it hard to get up.
    He .
  4. 4
    What a beautiful view!
    You .
  5. 5
    Laura is always anxious.
    She .
  6. 6
    Dan’s room isn’t very nice.
    He the walls.
33.2

Complete the sentences. Choose from:

should solveshould be working OKshouldn’t cost moreshouldn’t take longshould receiveshould pass the examshould be much warmershould be here soon
  1. 1
    Helen has been studying hard, so she .example
  2. 2
    Joe hasn’t arrived yet, but he .
  3. 3
    The TV has been repaired. It now.
  4. 4
    It to get to the hotel. About 20 minutes.
  5. 5
    I sent the documents to you today, so you them tomorrow.
  6. 6
    The weather is unusually cold. It at this time of year.
  7. 7
    The best way to get to the airport is by taxi. It than ten pounds.
  8. 8
    If you have a problem with the computer, try restarting it. That the problem.
33.3

Complete the sentences. Use should … or should have … + the verb in brackets.

  1. 1
    You look tired. You to bed. (go)example
  2. 2
    You missed a great party last night. You . (come)example
  3. 3
    I’m in a difficult position. What do you think I now? (do)
  4. 4
    I’m sorry that I didn’t take your advice. I what you said. (do)
  5. 5
    We lost the game, but we were the better team. We . (win)
  6. 6
    We don’t see you enough. You and see us more often. (come)
  7. 7
    We went the wrong way and got lost. We right, not left. (turn)
  8. 8
    My exam results weren’t good. I better. (do)
33.4

Read the situations and write sentences with should / should have / shouldn’t / shouldn’t have.

  1. 1
    I’m feeling sick. I ate too much.
    I shouldn’t have eaten so much.example
  2. 2
    When we got to the restaurant, there were no free tables. We hadn’t reserved one.
    We should have reserved a table.
  3. 3
    Laura told me her address, but I didn’t write it down. Now I can’t remember the house number.
    I should have written down her address.
  4. 4
    The shop is open every day from 8.30. It is 9 o’clock now, but the shop isn’t open yet.
    The shop should be open (now / by now).
  5. 5
    I was looking at my phone. I wasn’t looking where I was going. I walked into a wall.
    I shouldn’t have been looking at my phone.
  6. 6
    Kate is driving. The speed limit is 30 miles an hour, but Kate is doing 50.
    She shouldn’t be doing 50.
  7. 7
    I wasn’t feeling well yesterday, but I went to work. That was a mistake. Now I feel worse.
    I shouldn’t have gone to work (yesterday).
  8. 8
    Tomorrow there is a football match between Team A and Team B. Team A are much better.
    Team A should win (the match).
  9. 9
    I was driving. The car in front stopped suddenly and I drove into it. It wasn’t my fault. The driver in front
    The driver in front shouldn’t have stopped without warning.