Eclectic English Home Page Should and Shouldn't
  Should and Shouldn't - Grammar Reference and Practice Exercises

Created by: Nikita Kovalyov
Updated: April 2004


Part 1  Part 2

Should & Shouldn't - When to Use; How to Use
Should & Shouldn't - Positives; Negatives; and Questions


Should and Shouldn't - Use

  • We use should and shouldn't to give advice or to talk about what we think is right or wrong.

  • You should means something like I think it is a good idea for you to do it.

  • You shouldn't means something like I think it is a bad idea for you to do it.

  • Should is used to express the opinion of a speaker and often follows I think or I don't think.


Examples

     You look tired. I think you should take a few days off.

     Alice works very long hours. She should to talk to her boss.

     - I have an English test tomorrow.
     - I shouldn't worry if I were you. You have worked really hard.

     - I never have enough money.
     - I don't think you should go out so much.



Should - Quick Grammar Note

To give advice to someone you can also say:

  • I should do it if I were you.
  • I shouldn't be so rude, if I were you.

When you regret not doing something in the past, you can say:

  • I shouldn't have spoken to him like that.
  • I should have apologized earlier.

 



Should or Shouldn't - Practice

Exercise. Chose should or shouldn't.

  1. You be so selfish.

  2. I don't think you smoke so much.

  3. You exercise more.

  4. I think you try to speak to her.

  5. You are overweight. You go on a diet.

  6. Where we park our car?

  7. You never speak to your mother like this.

  8. The kids spend so much time in front of the TV.

  9. I tell her the truth or should I say nothing?

  10. I think we reserve our holiday in advance.



Tip! We do not use shouldn't where there isn't any obligation at all.
Instead we use don't have to or don't need to.

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Part 1  Part 2

Should & Shouldn't - When to Use; How to Use
Should & Shouldn't - Positives; Negatives; and Questions


have to and have got to Learn More

Have To and Don't Have To - When to use and how to use. Grammar reference and practice exercises for learners of English as a second language.




 


More Practice Pages:

  • Present Perfect Tense - when to use; how to form; how to use yet already, for and since; the difference between the Present Perfect and the Past Simple tenses

  • "Comparative" Geography Quiz for Pre-Intermediate level. A quiz that practices comparative and superlative forms of adjectives.

More activities on the Eclectic English Home Page.




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