should
should
Pronunciation
The IPA phonetic spelling for "should" is /ʃʊd/.
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
should:
/ʃ/ (as in "sh"ip)
/ʊ/ (as in p"u"t)
/d/ (as in "d"og)
Word Form Variations
"Should" is a modal auxiliary verb and therefore does not have typical word form variations like singular, plural, or different tenses in the same way regular verbs or nouns do. It maintains the same form regardless of the subject.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Verb (Modal Auxiliary)
Definition 1: Used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, often implying a recommendation or advice.
Example: "You should eat your vegetables."
Synonyms: ought to, must, need to, be supposed to
Antonyms: should not (implied opposite of obligation), needn't
Definition 2: Used to express probability or expectation.
Example: "The package should arrive by Friday."
Synonyms: likely to, probably will, expected to
Antonyms: unlikely to, probably won't
Definition 3: Used in conditional clauses, particularly to express a less certain or hypothetical condition.
Example: "If you should need any help, please don't hesitate to ask."
Synonyms: (Often context-dependent, no direct synonym that replaces "should" in this specific conditional sense)
Antonyms: (No direct antonym as it relates to a grammatical function)
Definition 4: Used to express a past obligation or expectation that was not met.
Example: "I should have called him yesterday."
Synonyms: ought to have, needed to have
Antonyms: shouldn't have (implied opposite of a past missed obligation)
Examples of Use
Books:
"All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others." This satirical statement from George Orwell's Animal Farm (1945) implicitly criticizes how things should be versus how they are.
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife." (Jane Austen, Pride and Prejudice, 1813). While using "must," the underlying societal expectation of what a man should desire is evident.
Newspapers:
"Biden Team Is Frustrated With Netanyahu. What Now? Administration officials believe Israel should have a better 'day after' plan for Gaza." (The New York Times)
"Why Scotland should be independent – and why it shouldn’t." (The Scotsman)
Online Publications:
"10 Things You Should Know Before Buying a Used Car." (Consumer Reports)
"Why Your Company Should Embrace Remote Work." (Forbes.com)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: In the movie The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Red (Morgan Freeman) says, "I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the Pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope." This reflects his hope for how things should be for him after prison.
Television Series: In an episode of The Good Place (Season 3, Episode 8, "The Worst Possible Use of Free Will," 2018), characters frequently debate philosophical dilemmas, often asking what actions they should take to be morally good.
Music: The song "Should I Stay or Should I Go" by The Clash (1982) directly poses a dilemma using the word.
Podcast: In an episode of "Stuff You Should Know" (iHeartRadio, May 2024) discussing a historical event, the hosts might say, "Historians generally agree that the battle should have gone differently if..."
Video Game: In many role-playing games, a non-player character might give the player a quest, saying, "You should go to the ancient ruins and retrieve the artifact." (General RPG quest dialogue)
General Public Discourse:
"We should really do something about climate change." (Common statement in environmental discussions)
"You should try that new restaurant down the street; I heard it's fantastic." (Everyday recommendation)
"Parents should be more involved in their children's education." (Opinion often expressed in community forums)
"I should have studied harder for that exam." (Common expression of regret)
10 Quotes Using Should
"We should have a great many fewer disputes in the world, if words were taken for what they are, and no more." (John Locke)
"The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing." (Often attributed to Edmund Burke, though the exact wording varies, this captures the essence of what good men should do.)
"The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting." (Sun Tzu, The Art of War, implying how war should ideally be conducted.)
"If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants." (Isaac Newton, referring to how scientific progress should occur.)
"Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country." (John F. Kennedy, implying what citizens should prioritize.)
"No one is useless in this world who lightens the burdens of another." (Charles Dickens, suggesting what one should strive to be.)
"Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely. Great men are almost always bad men." (Lord Acton, suggesting what we should be wary of regarding power.)
"Be the change that you wish to see in the world." (Mahatma Gandhi, implicitly stating how one should act to bring about change.)
"The unexamined life is not worth living." (Socrates, implying that one should engage in self-reflection.)
"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I— I took the one less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." (Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, implying a choice one should consider.)
Etymology
The word "should" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Old English.
Think of it like this: "Should" is the past tense form of "shall." In Old English, the word was "sċolde," which was the past tense of "sċulan."
"Sċulan" originally meant something like "to owe," "to have to," or "to be obliged to." So, in its very early days, "should" carried a strong sense of obligation or duty. It was about what was owed or what one was required to do.
Over time, as English evolved into Middle English and then modern English, the meaning of "should" broadened. While it still carries that sense of obligation ("You should really finish your homework"), it also developed other uses, such as expressing what is probable or expected ("The train should arrive soon") or offering polite suggestions ("I should think that's a good idea"). The "l" in "should" (and "could" and "would") was added later, likely by analogy with other words where "l" was pronounced.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Should
Should have known better: To realize one made a mistake or acted foolishly, recognizing that experience or common sense ought to have guided a different choice.
Shoulder to shoulder: Working closely together as a team (uses the noun form "shoulder," not the modal verb "should," but is a common phrase often thought of in relation to support).
Should the occasion arise: If a particular event or opportunity happens.
Should push come to shove: If a situation becomes very difficult or urgent; if things get serious.
Should you need anything: A polite offer of help.
Should the worst come to the worst: If the most undesirable outcome happens.
Should be fine/okay/alright: An expression of expectation that something will turn out well.
Who should appear/walk in...: Used to introduce a surprising or unexpected arrival.
As luck would have it (similar effect): By chance or unexpectedly, which sometimes implies how things "should" or "should not" have happened based on expectation.
It ought to be good (synonym for similar effect): Expressing a strong expectation or belief that something will be positive or successful.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of should from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
