What Should and Shouldn't Are
Should gives advice: it says something is a good idea. Shouldn't says something is a bad idea. The listener still decides what to do.
A GOOD IDEAAdvice to do something
It's cold outside. You should wear a jacket.
A jacket is a good idea, but it is still your choice.
A BAD IDEAAdvice not to do something
You shouldn't drink coffee at night.
Drinking coffee at night is a bad idea.
ASKING FOR ADVICEAsking what someone thinks
Should I call her?
The speaker wants to know what you think.
Should + base verb = it's a good idea; shouldn't + base verb = it's a bad idea. The base verb is the dictionary form: no -s, no -ing, no to.
TRY IT
- Question 1
"You look tired. You should a break."
- Question 2
"Your eyes are red. You look at your phone in bed."
The forms
POSITIVE
SshouldV
She should eat breakfast.
One form for every subject; the verb after it is the base form.
NEGATIVE
Sshouldn'tV
We shouldn't wait any longer.
Shouldn't is the short form of should not.
QUESTION
ShouldSV?
Should we tell the teacher? — Yes, you should.
Should moves to the front. Short answers: Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn't.
WH- QUESTION
What / Where…shouldSV?
What should I cook tonight?
Question word first, then should, then the subject.
With an adjective, the verb after should is be: You should be patient with your little brother. To make advice gentler, put I think in front: I think you should ask for help. To say gently that something is a bad idea, people often say I don't think you should: I don't think you should drive tonight.
TRY IT
- Question 1
" tell my teacher about it?"
- Question 2
"What time leave for the airport?"
- Question 3
"It's raining hard. I you should go out."
When to use it
Health advice
You should eat more vegetables.
Should is very common in advice about sleep, food and exercise.
Signal words: sleep more · drink water · see a doctor
Asking for advice
What should I wear to the interview?
A question with should asks what the other person thinks is best.
Signal words: What should I…? · Where should I…? · Should I…?
Deciding together
Should we take a taxi? It's late.
With we, should asks the people with you what to do.
Signal words: Should we…? · Should we go? · Should we wait?
General opinions
Children shouldn't watch TV all day.
What people in general should or shouldn't do.
Signal words: people should… · students shouldn't…
Should vs. must
The last lesson taught must and have to for things that are necessary. Should is much softer. It is advice, and the listener can choose not to follow it. The negatives are different too: mustn't means it is not allowed, but shouldn't only means it is a bad idea.
| SHOULD — ADVICE | MUST — A RULE | |
|---|---|---|
| flying | You should arrive a bit early. | You must show your passport. |
| at school | You should read the book before class. | Students must wear a uniform. |
| negative | You shouldn't eat so fast. | You mustn't use your phone in the exam. |
When the listener can choose not to do it, use should.
TRY IT
- Question 1
A hospital rule: "Visitors leave by 8 p.m."
- Question 2
Your friend often gets headaches: "You drink more water during the day."
Common mistakes
Incorrect:You should to see a doctor.
Correct:You should see a doctor.
Should is followed by the base verb with no to. The to is part of have to, not should.
Incorrect:She should goes to bed now.
Correct:She should go to bed now.
Should does not change with the subject, and the verb after it takes no -s.
Incorrect:Do I should buy this phone?
Correct:Should I buy this phone?
Should makes its own question by moving to the front, and it never goes with do.
Incorrect:What I should say to her?
Correct:What should I say to her?
After a question word, should must come before the subject, just like is and can.
Incorrect:You don't should stay up late.
Correct:You shouldn't stay up late.
The negative of should is shouldn't. Should does not use don't like an ordinary verb.
Quick check · 7 questions
Choose the correct form:
My brother should clean his room more often.
- A. should clean — Correct
- B. should cleans
- C. should to clean
Answer: A. should clean
The subject is my brother, but should stays the same and the verb after it is the base form: no -s and no to.
Choose the correct form:
You shouldn't play games so late. You have school tomorrow.
- A. shouldn't — Correct
- B. don't should
- C. not should
Answer: A. shouldn't
Not goes straight after should, and should not becomes shouldn't. Should never uses don't like an ordinary verb.
You are asking a friend for advice. Choose the correct question:
Should I bring anything to the party?
- A. Should I bring — Correct
- B. Do I should bring
- C. I should bring
Answer: A. Should I bring
A question with should needs no do. Should goes in front of the subject.
Choose the correct question:
Where should I park my bike?
- A. should I park — Correct
- B. I should park
- C. should I parking
Answer: A. should I park
After where, should still comes before I, and park stays in its base form.
It's too expensive and you want to tell your friend, gently, not to buy it. Choose the best sentence:
I don't think you should buy it.
- A. I don't think you should buy it. — Correct
- B. I don't think you shouldn't buy it.
- C. I think you should buy it.
Answer: A. I don't think you should buy it.
After I don't think, the rest keeps should. B has two negatives, so it is confusing and wrong here. C tells your friend to buy it.
A friend asks which shirt to wear to a party. Choose the best word:
I think you should wear the red one.
- A. should — Correct
- B. must
- C. have to
Answer: A. should
Your friend chooses the shirt, so should is enough. Must and have to sound like there is a rule about the shirt.
Choose the correct word:
The baby is asleep. You should be quiet.
- A. be — Correct
- B. is
- C. are
Answer: A. be
Quiet is an adjective, so the sentence needs be. After should, use be, not is or are.
See whether it really stuck.
Start the quiz · 12 questions
