Meaning of should | Babel Free
ʃədDefinitions
-
simple past of shall form-of, past
- Ought to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable.
- Used to issue an instruction (traditionally seen as carrying less force of authority than alternatives such as 'shall' or 'must').
- To make a statement of what ought to be true, as opposed to reality.
- to owe
- Used to give advice or opinion that an action is, or would have been, beneficial or desirable.
- To suggest (that someone ought to do something, or that something ought to be the case) by, or as if by, using the word should.
- must, to need to, to have to (rarely used in the conditional with this meaning)
- With verbs such as 'see' or 'hear', usually in the second person, used to point out something remarkable in either a good or bad way.
- should, to ought to, to be supposed to, to be to
- In questions, asks what is correct, proper, desirable, etc.
- should have (in the preterite; having haber follow "deber" is optional and not required)
- Ought to; expressing expectation.
- Indicates that something is expected to have happened or to be the case now.
- shall
- Will be likely to (become or do something); indicates a degree of possibility or probability that the stated thing will happen or be true in the future.
- Used to form a variant of the present subjunctive, expressing a state or action that is hypothetical, potential, mandated, etc.
- An alternative to would with first person subjects.
- Used to express a conditional outcome.
- Used to impart a tentative, conjectural or polite nuance.
- Used to express what the speaker would do in another person's situation, as a means of giving a suggestion or recommendation.
Equivalents
Examples
“I told him that I should be busy tomorrow.”
“I was astonished at this polite offer⟳, which my modesty induced me to ascribe more to my uniform than to my own⟳ merits, and, as I felt no inclination to refuse⟳ the compliment, I said that I should be most happy.”
“You should never drink⟳ and drive⟳.”
“The law is clear that you should always wear⟳ a seat belt.”
“The manual says that this switch⟳ should be in the 'off' position.”
“You should go and see⟳ that film. I think⟳ you'll enjoy⟳ it.”
“Should we go and see⟳ the police, do you think⟳?”
“She should not have⟳ been so rude.”
“You should see⟳ his new apartment. It's like⟳ a palace!”
“If you think⟳ her piano playing is bad, you should hear⟳ her sing⟳!”
“What do you think⟳? What should I do?”
“Next month, Clemons will be brought before a court presided over by a "special master", who will review⟳ the case one last⟳ time. The hearing will be unprecedented in its remit, but at its core will be a simple issue⟳: should Reggie Clemons live⟳ or die⟳?”
“They should have⟳ finished by now; I'll call⟳ them to check.”
“My fruit trees should be in flower, but the cold spring⟳ has set⟳ them back.”
“They should have⟳ it finished by Friday.”
“When you press⟳ this button, the pilot flame should ignite.”
“You should be warm enough with that coat.”
“We’re spending the winter in Ibiza. ~ That should be nice.”
“If I should be late, I should hope⟳ that you are prepared to go on without me.”
“Should you need⟳ extra blankets, you will find⟳ them in the closet.”
“It's his proposal that there (should) not be several dozen units.”
“I regret⟳ that it should have⟳ happened, but I was really shocked that he should say⟳ that.”
“'One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night, / But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light⟳; / Yet, if they press⟳ me sharply, and harry me through the day, / Then look⟳ for me by moonlight, / Watch⟳ for me by moonlight, / I'll come⟳ to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way.'”
“It was a long weary time, for the Boy was too ill to play⟳, and the little Rabbit found it rather dull with nothing to do all day long. But he snuggled down patiently, and looked forward⟳ to the time when the Boy should be well again, and they would go out in the garden amongst the flowers and the butterflies and play⟳ splendid games in the raspberry thicket like⟳ they used to.”
“And I'd be a fool right now If I should hurt⟳ you girl And I'd be a fool right now If I should leave⟳ you girl”
“He is noted for coming up with his 'wager', in which he argued that he was prepared to believe⟳ in God on the grounds that he had nothing to lose⟳ if he was wrong, and everything to gain⟳ should he be right.”
“If I had not been so tired, I should have⟳ laughed heartily.”
“"If our friends, the Scarecrow and the Tin Woodman, were only with us," said the Lion, "I should be quite happy."”
“"Your Silver Shoes will carry⟳ you over the desert," replied Glinda. "If you had known their power you could have⟳ gone back to your Aunt Em the very first day you came to this country." "But then I should not have⟳ had my wonderful brains!" cried the Scarecrow. "I might have⟳ passed my whole life in the farmer's cornfield."”
“"Good God! I don't want⟳ another accident here. I should go dotty if I had to face⟳ all that again."”
“I should imagine⟳ that they have⟳ arrived by now.”
“I should think⟳ you would apologize.”
“I should be very grateful to receive⟳ your prompt reply⟳. (formal or old-fashioned)”
“We should very much like⟳ to meet⟳ her. (formal or old-fashioned)”
“It didn’t turn⟳ out as we intended it should.”
“I should like⟳ to dine with him. I dare say⟳ he gives famous dinners.”
“It's disgraceful the way that they've treated you. I should write⟳ and complain⟳.”
“I'd prefer⟳ that she stop⟳ shoulding me. I prefer⟳ that I stop⟳ shoulding me. I prefer⟳ that I stop⟳ shoulding her.”
“[…] for her to be kind to herself and less susceptible to others shoulding her.”
CEFR level
A1
Beginner
This word is part of the CEFR A1 vocabulary — beginner level.
This word is part of the CEFR A1 vocabulary — beginner level.
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