Advanced Uses of Should in English: B2–C1 Grammar Guide

If you already know how to use should for basic advice, recommendations and past regret, it is time to look at some more advanced uses of should in English.

In this lesson, we will focus on structures that often appear in B2 First, C1 Advanced, formal writing, reports, proposals, essays and more sophisticated speaking. These include should after certain verbs, should after adjectives, the subjunctive form, formal conditional sentences, and some traditional British English expressions.

These advanced uses of should can make your English sound more accurate, elegant and natural — especially when you want to move from intermediate to advanced level.

Advanced uses of should after verbs such as suggest, insist and recommend

We often use should after verbs that express advice, suggestions, recommendations, demands or decisions.

• suggest
• recommend
• insist
• demand
• propose
• request
• advise
• ask
• agree
• decide

The structure is:

verb + that + subject + should + infinitive without to

• I suggested that he should take a short break.
• The doctor recommended that she should drink more water.
• They insisted that everyone should arrive on time.
• The citizens demanded that something should be done about the noise.
• The manager proposed that we should meet again the following week.
• The committee agreed that the plan should be changed.

This structure is common in formal and semi-formal English, especially when we report what someone suggested, recommended or demanded.

Should after suggest

Learners often make mistakes with the verb suggest.

We do not normally say:

• I suggested him to apply for the job.
• She suggested me to call the manager.
• What do you suggest us to do?

Instead, use one of these structures:

suggest + -ing

• I suggested applying for the job.
• She suggested calling the manager.

suggest that + subject + should + verb

• I suggested that he should apply for the job.
• She suggested that I should call the manager.

suggest that + subject + base verb

• I suggested that he apply for the job.
• She suggested that I call the manager.

Should after recommend

We use recommend in a similar way.

Correct:

• The teacher recommended that I should read more articles in English.
• The teacher recommended that I read more articles in English.
• The teacher recommended reading more articles in English.

Avoid this structure in formal English:

Incorrect:

• The teacher recommended me to read more articles in English.

A safer and more natural structure is:

• The teacher recommended that I should read more articles in English.

or:

• The teacher recommended reading more articles in English.

Leaving out should: the subjunctive form

After verbs such as suggest, insist, recommend, demand and propose, we can sometimes leave out should and use the base form of the verb.

This is called the subjunctive form.

• I suggested that he should apologise.
• I suggested that he apologise.

• They insisted that everyone should be present.
• They insisted that everyone be present.

• The citizens demanded that action should be taken.
• The citizens demanded that action be taken.

The second version in each pair is more formal and direct. It is common in written English, official language and exam-style writing.

More examples:

• The manager requested that the report be completed by Friday.
• The teacher insisted that every student hand in the assignment.
• The committee recommended that the old system be replaced.
• The proposal suggested that more money be invested in public transport.

Notice that the verb does not change.

Correct:

• She insisted that he be honest.
• They demanded that the rule be changed.

Not:

• She insisted that he is honest.
• They demanded that the rule is changed.

Should after adjectives

We can also use should after adjectives that express importance, necessity, advice or opinion.

Common adjectives include:

• important
• essential
• necessary
• vital
• crucial
• advisable
• desirable
• better
• strange
• surprising
• natural

The structure is:

It is + adjective + that + subject + should + infinitive

• It is important that students should revise regularly.
• It is essential that everyone should understand the rules.
• It is necessary that the documents should be sent on time.
• It is vital that children should feel safe at school.
• It is advisable that applicants should prepare carefully for the interview.

This structure is useful in formal writing because it helps you express opinions in a more advanced way.

For example, in an essay:

• It is essential that governments should invest more in public transport.
• It is important that young people should be taught practical life skills.

The subjunctive after adjectives

After adjectives such as important, essential, necessary and vital, we can also leave out should and use the base form of the verb.

• It is important that students should arrive on time.
• It is important that students arrive on time.

• It is essential that everyone should be informed.
• It is essential that everyone be informed.

• It is necessary that the application should be submitted before Friday.
• It is necessary that the application be submitted before Friday.

The version with should is very natural in British English. The version without should is more formal and is common in official or academic English.

Should after adjectives of surprise or emotion

We can also use should after adjectives that express surprise, emotion or judgement.

Common adjectives include:

• strange
• odd
• funny
• surprising
• shocking
• natural
• typical
• interesting

Examples:

• It’s strange that he should be so nervous before the meeting.
• I was surprised that she should say something like that.
• It’s odd that they should refuse such a generous offer.
• It’s natural that students should feel anxious before an important exam.
• It’s shocking that so many people should ignore the warning.

In this use, should does not mean advice. It adds a feeling of surprise, emotion or judgement.

Compare:

He should be more careful. = advice

It’s strange that he should be so careless. = surprise or judgement

This is a more advanced use, but it is very useful for C1-level writing and speaking.

Should in formal conditional sentences

We can use should in conditional sentences when we want to sound formal or when the situation is possible but not very likely.

• If you should need any help, please contact reception.
• If the weather should change, we will cancel the event.

This is more formal than a normal first conditional.

Compare:

If you need any help, call me. = normal and everyday

If you should need any help, please contact me. = more formal and polite

This structure is common in emails, notices, instructions and formal announcements.

Should at the beginning of a conditional sentence

In formal English, we can begin a conditional sentence with should. This makes the sentence sound more elegant and formal.

• Should you need any help, please contact reception.
• Should you require further information, please do not hesitate to contact us.

This means the same as:

• If you need any help…
• If the weather changes…
• If there are any delays…
• If you require further information…

This structure is especially useful in formal emails and business English.

• Should you have any questions, please contact us.
• Should you wish to cancel your booking, please inform us in writing.

Should in case something happens

We sometimes use should when we are preparing for a possible situation.

• Take an umbrella in case it should rain.
• Write down the number in case you should need it later.

This use is rather formal or old-fashioned. In everyday English, we usually say:

• Take an umbrella in case it rains.
• Write down the number in case you need it later.

However, advanced learners may meet this structure in formal writing or older texts.

I should think / I should say / I should hope

In British English, I should think, I should say and I should hope are traditional expressions used to make opinions sound softer or more polite.

• I should think he is about fifty. = I think he is probably about fifty.
• I should say this is the best option. =  I would say this is the best option.
• I should hope they apologise. = I certainly hope they apologise.

These expressions sound rather traditional, but they are still useful to recognise, especially in British English.

I should / I shouldn’t for advice

In more traditional British English, I should can mean I would when giving advice.

• I should apply for the job if I were you. = I would apply for the job if I were you.
• I shouldn’t worry too much about it. = I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

This use is less common in modern everyday English than You should…, but advanced learners may still hear or read it.

Compare:

• You should apply for the job. = clear, modern advice
• I should apply for the job if I were you. = more traditional British English

You should not confuse this with the ordinary meaning of should, which expresses advice, expectation or obligation.

Should not always mean advice

One important thing to remember is that should does not always mean advice.

Look at these examples:

• You should see a doctor. = advice
• He should be home by now. = expectation
• I suggested that he should see a doctor. = recommendation after a verb
• It’s strange that he should refuse. = surprise
• Should you need help, call us. = formal condition

So, when you see should, always look at the whole sentence. The meaning depends on the structure.

Common mistakes with advanced should

Incorrect:

• I suggested him to apologise.

Correct:

• I suggested that he should apologise.
• I suggested that he apologise.
• I suggested apologising.

Incorrect:

• The teacher recommended me to study more.

Correct:

• The teacher recommended that I should study more.
• The teacher recommended that I study more.
• The teacher recommended studying more.

Incorrect:

• It is important that he studies every day.

This is possible in everyday English, but for formal grammar, use:

• It is important that he should study every day.
• It is important that he study every day.

Incorrect:

• Should you will need help, contact us.

Correct:

• Should you need help, contact us.

Incorrect:

• Should the weather will change, we’ll cancel the event.

Correct:

• Should the weather change, we’ll cancel the event.

As you can see, the advanced uses of should are not limited to giving advice; they also appear in formal recommendations, subjunctive structures, conditional sentences and expressions of surprise.

Download Advanced Uses of Should in English Practice Worksheet in PDF here

or do the quiz:

Advanced uses of should: summary

should after verbs	I suggested that he should rest.
subjunctive after verbs	I suggested that he rest.
should after adjectives	It is essential that everyone should arrive on time.
subjunctive after adjectives	It is essential that everyone arrive on time.
should for surprise	It’s strange that he should refuse.
formal conditional	Should you need help, call us.
traditional British English	I should think he is right.

Final tip on advanced uses of should

These advanced uses of should are especially helpful for learners preparing for B2 First, C1 Advanced, IELTS, TOEFL or any exam where formal grammar and accurate sentence structure matter.

You do not need to use all of these structures in everyday conversation, but you should recognise them and practise using them in formal writing.

If you are writing an essay, report, proposal or formal email, structures such as these can make your English sound more polished:

• It is essential that students should receive clear feedback.
• The committee recommended that action should be taken immediately.
• Should you require further information, please contact us.
• It is surprising that so many people should ignore the problem.

Used well, these advanced uses of should show that should is not just a simple word for advice. It is a powerful grammar tool for expressing suggestions, conditions, opinions, surprise and formal recommendations in advanced English.

Related posts:

The Modal Verb SHOULD 

Modal Verbs for Suggestions in English 

Subjunctive and Formal Expressions in English 

How to Write a C1 Advanced Essay 

Prepositional Phrases for Formal Writing 

100 Formal and Informal Noun Pairs 

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