Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Note: 'Should' is a modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb.
1.
You use ~ when you are saying what would be the right thing to do or the right state for something to be in.
I ~ exercise more...
The diet ~ be maintained unchanged for about a year...
He’s never going to be able to forget it. And I don’t think he ~...
Sometimes I am not as brave as I ~ be...
Should our children be taught to swim at school?
MODAL
2.
You use ~ to give someone an order to do something, or to report an official order.
All visitors ~ register with the British Embassy...
The European Commission ruled that British Aerospace ~ pay back tens of millions of pounds.
MODAL
3.
If you say that something ~ have happened, you mean that it did not happen, but that you wish it had. If you say that something ~ not have happened, you mean that it did happen, but that you wish it had not.
I ~ have gone this morning but I was feeling a bit ill...
You ~ have written to the area manager again...
I ~n’t have said what I did.
MODAL
4.
You use ~ when you are saying that something is probably the case or will probably happen in the way you are describing. If you say that something ~ have happened by a particular time, you mean that it will probably have happened by that time.
You ~ have no problem with reading this language...
The doctor said it will take six weeks and I ~ be fine by then...
MODAL
5.
You use ~ in questions when you are asking someone for advice, permission, or information.
Should I or ~n’t I go to university?...
Please could you advise me what I ~ do?...
Should I go back to the motel and wait for you to telephone?...
MODAL
6.
You say ‘I ~’, usually with the expression ‘if I were you’, when you are giving someone advice by telling them what you would do if you were in their position. (FORMAL)
I ~ look out if I were you!
MODAL
7.
You use ~ in conditional clauses when you are talking about things that might happen. (FORMAL)
If you ~ be fired, your health and pension benefits will not be automatically cut off...
Should you buy a home from Lovell, the company promises to buy it back at the same price after three years...
MODAL
8.
You use ~ in ‘that’ clauses after certain verbs, nouns, and adjectives when you are talking about a future event or situation.
He raised his glass and indicated that I ~ do the same...
My father was very keen that I ~ fulfill my potential...
MODAL
9.
You use ~ in expressions such as I ~ think and I ~ imagine to indicate that you think something is true but you are not sure.
I ~ think it’s going to rain soon...
MODAL vagueness
10.
You use ~ in expressions such as I ~ like and I ~ be happy to show politeness when you are saying what you want to do, or when you are requesting, offering, or accepting something.
I ~ be happy if you would bring them this evening...
MODAL politeness
11.
You use ~ in expressions such as You ~ have seen us and You ~ have heard him to emphasize how funny, shocking, or impressive something that you experienced was. (SPOKEN)
You ~ have heard him last night!
MODAL emphasis