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Content tagged with "SHOULD"

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Conditionals and inversion

conditionals
inversion
BE TO
IF
SHOULD
WILL
WOULD

In formal English, the subject and the auxiliary can be inverted in the if-clause with if omitted:

Less likely conditions

conditionals
unlikelihood
unreal situations
BE TO
SHOULD

First conditional

In the first conditional, happen to and should can be used in the if-clause to express that something is possible but not very likely:

If you happen to see Kate, say hi from me.
If you should see Kate, say hi from me.

Modals to express advice: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER

advice
modals
HAD BETTER
OUGHT TO
SHOULD

Should, ought to and had better can express advice:

You should smoke less.
We'd better leave soon.
You ought to thank her. 

Ought to is less frequently used and is more formal.

Modals to express assumption: WILL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

assumption
modals
OUGHT TO
SHOULD
WILL

Present and future

Will and should + infinitive are used to express assumptions with reference to present and future time. Assumptions with will are more probable:

Modals to express criticism: CAN, COULD, MIGHT, SHOULD

criticism
modals
CAN
COULD
MIGHT
SHOULD

Present and future

Can, could, might and should/shouldn't + infinitive are used to express criticism or disapproval with reference to present or future time:

Modals to express obligation: SHOULD, OUGHT TO

modals
obligation
OUGHT TO
SHOULD

Present and future

Should and ought to + infinitive express obligation and duty. Should is used when we offer a subjective opinion, while ought to has a more general and more objective meaning:

The modal SHOULD to express surprise

modals
surprise
SHOULD

Should in that-clauses is used as an alternative to present or past tenses to express surprise or disbelief:

I'm sorry that he should feel that way.
It's funny that we should be living in the same block of flats.
It's surprising that she should have said that.