should

should
should ► MODAL VERB (3rd sing. should) 1) used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness. 2) used to indicate what is probable. 3) formal expressing the conditional mood. 4) used in a clause with ‘that’ after a main clause describing feelings. 5) used in a clause with ‘that’ expressing purpose. 6) (in the first person) expressing a polite request or acceptance. 7) (in the first person) expressing a conjecture or hope.
USAGE Strictly speaking should is used with I and we, as in I should be grateful if you would let me know , while would is used with you, he, she, it, and they, as in you didn't say you would be late ; in practice would is normally used instead of should in reported speech and conditional clauses, such as I said I would be late . In speech the distinction tends to be obscured, through the use of the contracted forms I'd, we'd, etc.
ORIGIN past of SHALL(Cf. ↑shall).

English terms dictionary. 2015.

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  • should — [ ʃud ] modal verb *** Should is usually followed by an infinitive without to : You should eat more fresh fruit. Sometimes should is used without a following infinitive: I don t always do everything I should. Should does not change its form, so… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • should — W1S1 [ʃəd strong ʃud] modal v negative short form shouldn t ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ 1¦(right thing)¦ 2¦(advice)¦ 3¦(expected thing)¦ 4¦(correct thing)¦ 5¦(orders)¦ 6¦(after that )¦ 7¦(possibility)¦ 8¦(imagined situations)¦ 9¦(request …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • Should — (sh[oo^]d), imp. of {Shall}. [OE. sholde, shulde, scholde, schulde, AS. scolde, sceolde. See {Shall}.] Used as an auxiliary verb, to express a conditional or contingent act or state, or as a supposition of an actual fact; also, to express moral… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • should — should; should·er·er; should·na; …   English syllables

  • should've — [shood′əv] contraction should have * * * …   Universalium

  • should've — (should have) v. used to express the possibility that one ought to have done something …   English contemporary dictionary

  • should — c.1200, from O.E. sceolde, past tense of sceal (see SHALL (Cf. shall)). Preserves the original notion of obligation that has all but dropped from shall …   Etymology dictionary

  • should — [[t]ʃəd, STRONG ʃʊd[/t]] ♦ (Should is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb.) 1) MODAL You use should when you are saying what would be the right thing to do or the right state for something to be in. I should exercise more... The …   English dictionary

  • should — strong /SUd/ modal verb negative short form shouldn t 1 used to show that something is the best thing to do because it is morally right, fair, honest etc: He should learn to be more polite. | What you should have done is call the police. | I have …   Longman dictionary of contemporary English

  • should — /shood/, auxiliary v. 1. pt. of shall. 2. (used to express condition): Were he to arrive, I should be pleased. 3. must; ought (used to indicate duty, propriety, or expediency): You should not do that. 4. would (used to make a statement less… …   Universalium

  • should — verbal auxiliary, past of shall Etymology: Middle English sholde, from Old English sceolde owed, was obliged to, ought to Date: before 12th century 1. used in auxiliary function to express condition < if he should leave his father, his father… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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