The Modal Verb Should: Advice, Expectations and Past Regret

Hello English learners! Welcome to a new lesson. Today, we are going to look at the modal verb should, one of the most useful modal verbs in English.

We use the modal verb should to give advice, make recommendations, talk about expectations, say that something is the right thing to do, and express regret or criticism about the past.

It is a very common word in everyday English, but it is also extremely useful in exams such as B2 First and C1 Advanced, especially in speaking, writing, essays, reviews, emails and reports.

Let’s look at how should works and how to use it naturally.

How do we form should?

The form is very simple:

should + infinitive without to

• You should study more.
• She should call her parents.

We do not add -s after he, she or it.

Correct:

• She should listen more carefully.

Incorrect:

• She shoulds listen more carefully.

We also do not use to after should.

Correct:

• You should go home.

Incorrect:

• You should to go home.

Should for giving advice

We often use the modal verb should to tell someone what we think is the right, sensible or helpful thing to do.

• You should check your answers before you hand in the test.
• You should spend less time on your phone before bed.

This use is common when we want to help someone, give an opinion, or suggest a better course of action.

Making advice softer and more polite

Sometimes, You should… can sound a little direct. To make advice softer and more polite, we often add phrases such as:

• I think…
• If you ask me…
• Don’t you think…?
• Maybe…
• Perhaps…
• It might be a good idea to…

Examples:

• I think you should read the instructions before you assemble the bookcase.
• Don’t you think you should wear lighter clothes when cycling?
• If you ask me, you should buy a thicker jacket for Canada.
• Maybe you should talk to your teacher about the problem.
• Perhaps you should take a short break before you continue studying.
• This is especially useful in speaking exams because it helps you sound natural and polite.

Shouldn’t: the negative form

The negative form is should not, but in everyday English we usually use the contraction shouldn’t.

We use shouldn’t to say that something is not a good idea or that someone ought not to do something.

• You shouldn’t underestimate his abilities.
• You shouldn’t believe everything you read online.

We can also make advice softer with I don’t think you should…

• I don’t think you should quit your job without another plan.

This often sounds more polite than simply saying You shouldn’t…

Should for recommendations and suggestions

We can also use the modal verb should to recommend things such as places, food, films, books, activities, habits or solutions.

• You should definitely try sushi in that new Japanese restaurant.
• You should visit Edinburgh if you go to Scotland.

In this use, should does not sound like a strict rule. It simply means: “I think this is a good idea.”

Should for expectations

We use should when we expect something to be true or when something seems logical.

• It’s late. Mark should be home by now.
• The test shouldn’t be too difficult if you have revised properly.

Here, should does not mean advice. It means that something is expected or probable.

Compare:

• You should be at school by 9 a.m. = advice / obligation

• It’s 9 a.m. The children should be at school. = expectation

Should for saying what is right or fair

We also use should to talk about what we believe is right, fair, reasonable or morally correct.

• Companies should be honest with their customers.
• Everyone should have access to clean water.

This use is very helpful in essays because it allows you to express opinions clearly.

• Governments should invest more money in public transport.
• Young people should be given more opportunities to gain work experience.

Questions with should

To make a question, we put should before the subject.

• Should I call him?
• Should they apply for the job?

We often use questions with should when we want advice.

• What should I do?
• Should we choose the first option or the second one?

In speaking, What should I do? is one of the most useful everyday questions in English.

Should do vs should be doing

We use should + infinitive to talk about advice, expectations or the right thing to do.

• You should revise for the exam.
• He should call his mother.

We use should be + -ing when we want to say that an action is expected to be happening now.

• It’s midnight. You should be sleeping.
• She should be studying, but she’s watching TV.

Compare:

• You should study more. = general advice

• You should be studying now. = I expect you to be studying at this moment

Should have + past participle

We use should have + past participle to talk about the past. It usually means that something was a mistake, or that a better action was possible but did not happen.

Form:

should have + past participle

• I should have studied more for the exam.
• They should have checked the information before publishing it.

This structure often expresses regret, criticism or reflection.

Shouldn’t have + past participle

The negative form is shouldn’t have + past participle.

We use it when we think that a past action was a bad idea or a mistake.

• I shouldn’t have eaten so much cake.
• We shouldn’t have spent so much money on things we didn’t need.

This structure is very common when people look back and judge a past decision.

Should do vs should have done

Be careful with the difference between should do and should have done.

Should do refers to now or the future.

• You should buy a new computer. = I think this is a good idea now or in the future.

Should have done refers to the past.

• You should have bought it during the sale. = You did not buy it then, but it would have been a good idea.

Should vs must

Both should and must can talk about the right thing to do, but they are not the same.

Should is usually advice or recommendation.

• You should see a doctor. = I think this is a good idea.

Must is much stronger. It often expresses strong obligation, necessity or a rule.

• You must wear a seat belt. = This is necessary or required.

Compare:

• You should arrive on time. = It is a good idea and the right thing to do.
• You must arrive on time. = It is required; you have no choice.

For this reason, should is often more polite and softer than must.

Common mistakes with the modal verb should

Here are some common mistakes learners make with should.

Incorrect:

• You should to study more.

Correct:

• You should study more.

Incorrect:

• She shoulds call him.

Correct:

• She should call him.

Incorrect:

• I should have went earlier.

Correct:

• I should have gone earlier.

Incorrect:

• You don’t should say that.

Correct:

• You shouldn’t say that.

Incorrect:

• Should I to wait here?

Correct:

• Should I wait here?

Download the modal verb SHOULD exercise in PDF here

or do the quiz to perfect your knowledge

Final tip

Should is polite, natural and extremely common in English. You can use it to give advice, make recommendations, express expectations, talk about what is right or fair, and reflect on past mistakes.

If you want to sound more fluent and confident, practise these structures:

• You should…
• You shouldn’t…
• Should I…?
• I should have…
• I shouldn’t have…

Mastering should will help you speak and write more naturally in everyday English and in exams such as B2 First and C1 Advanced.

If you already know the basic uses, you can also read my lesson on advanced uses of should in English, including should after verbs such as suggest, insist and recommend, and formal conditionals such as Should you need any help…

Related posts:

Modal Verbs for Suggestions in English 

Modal Verbs of Advice 

Polite Phrases for Emails 

Subjunctive and Formal Expressions in English 

How to Write an Essay for B2 First (FCE)

How to Write a C1 Advanced Essay 

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