Verb should in english

We often use should when offering advice or opinions similar to ought to : You should see the new James Bond movie. It's great! You should try to lose weight. John should get a haircut. He shouldn't smoke. And he should stop drinking too. What should I wear? They should make that illegal. This expresses the idea that the subject is not fulfilling their obligation or is not acting sensibly.

Sometimes should is replaced by ought to without a change in meaning. Note that ought to sounds more formal and is used less frequently. See our notes about other Modal Verbs.

They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form: He can speak three languages. She will try and visit tomorrow. Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to , have to and used to : You must find a job. You ought to stop smoking. I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago. Should I have invited Mary? You will find more help with how to use modal verbs at the dictionary entries for each verb.

Been or gone? Begin or start? Beside or besides? Between or among? Born or borne? Bring , take and fetch Can , could or may?

Classic or classical? Come or go? Consider or regard? Consist , comprise or compose? Content or contents? Different from , different to or different than? Do or make? Down , downwards or downward? During or for? Each or every? East or eastern ; north or northern? Economic or economical? Efficient or effective? Elder , eldest or older , oldest? End or finish? Especially or specially? Except or except for?

Expect , hope or wait? Experience or experiment? Fall or fall down? Far or a long way? Farther , farthest or further , furthest? Fast , quick or quickly? Fell or felt? Female or feminine ; male or masculine? Finally , at last , lastly or in the end? First , firstly or at first? Fit or suit? Following or the following? For or since? Forget or leave? Full or filled? Fun or funny? Get or go? Grateful or thankful? Hear or listen to? High or tall? Historic or historical? House or home?

How is …? If or when? If or whether? Ill or sick? Imply or infer? In the way or on the way? Late or lately? Lay or lie? Lend or borrow? Less or fewer? Look at , see or watch? Low or short? Man , mankind or people? Maybe or may be?