should

shouldmodal verb

Should gives advice about the right thing to do, says that something is likely, judges a past action, or, in a formal way, marks an imagined condition.

1. advice; the right thing to doused to say that something is the right, sensible, or expected thing to do

   The everyday modal for advice and recommendations, milder than must or have to: should suggests what is best, not what is required.

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]

   • You should see a doctor about that cough. V + inf
   • We should leave soon if we want good seats. V + inf
   • Students should read the whole chapter before class. V + inf
   • You shouldn't work so late every night. V + inf (negative)

   Synonyms ought (close in meaning but more formal and less common than should)

   Compare must (must is stronger and shows real necessity; should is advice or a recommendation); ought; shall

2. likely; expectedused to say that something is likely to be true or to happen, based on what is known

   A confident guess rather than a certainty; compare must, which shows even greater confidence.

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf]

   • The bus should arrive any minute now. V + inf
   • This exercise should be easy for you. V + inf
   • She should be home by now. V + inf

   Compare must (must shows greater confidence that something is true)

3. should haveused with have and a past participle to judge that a past action was, or was not, the right thing to do

   In the affirmative, it usually says something right was not done: you should have called means you didn't call. In the negative, it usually says something wrong was done: you shouldn't have left means you did leave. Often expresses regret or criticism, about the speaker's own actions or someone else's.

   • You should have called me when you landed.
   • I should have known better than to trust him.
   • We shouldn't have left so late; now we're stuck in traffic.

   Compare could (could have only says something was possible; should have judges it as the right thing to do)

   For translators (sense 3)

   Grammar trap Should have is followed by a past participle, not the base form. In speech it often sounds like should of, but that spelling is always wrong.

4. should you...used at the start of a clause, in place of if, to introduce a formal and less likely condition

   A formal alternative to an if clause, made by putting should before the subject instead of using if: should you need help means the same as if you should need help.

   verb + bare infinitive [V + inf] formal

   • Should you need anything, just ask. V + inf
   • Should the weather turn bad, the event will move indoors. V + inf

   Compare if (should you... is a formal alternative to if you should...)

   For translators (sense 4)

   Grammar trap This inverted form (should before the subject, with no if) is mainly written and formal; it is unusual, though not impossible, in casual speech, where if is more often kept.

See also ought (a more formal word for the same advice and probability meanings); would