Unit 33. Should 1.

Unit 33; Part A

You should do something = it is a good thing to do or the right thing to do. You can use should to give advice or to give an opinion:

•    You look tired. You should go to bed.
•    The government should do more to reduce crime.
•    'Should we invite Susan to the party?'    'Yes, I think we should.'

We often use should with I think /I don't think / Do you think ... ?:
•    I think the government should do more to reduce crime.
•    I don't think you should work so hard.
•    'Do you think I should apply for this job?'    'Yes, I think you should.'

You shouldn't do something = it isn't a good thing to do:
•    You shouldn't believe everything you read in the newspapers.

Should is not as strong as must or have to:
•    You should apologise. (= it would be a good thing to do)
•    You must apologise. / You have to apologise. (= you have no alternative)

Unit 33; Part B

You can use should when something is not right or what you expect:
33.1.jpg

• I wonder where Tina is. She should be here by now. (= she isn't here yet, and this is not normal)
•    The price on this packet is wrong. It should be £2.50, not £3.50.
•    That man on the motorbike should be wearing a helmet.

We also use should to say that we expect something to happen:
•    She's been studying hard for the exam, so she should pass. (= I expect her to pass)
•    There are plenty of hotels in the town. It shouldn't be difficult to find somewhere to stay. (= I don't expect it to be difficult)

Unit 33; Part C

You should have done something = you didn't do it, but it would have been the right thing to do:

•    You missed a great party last night. You should have come. Why didn't you?
     (= you didn't come, but it would have been good to come)
•    I wonder why they're so late. They should have arrived long ago.

You shouldn't have done something = you did it, but it was the wrong thing to do:
•    I'm feeling sick. I shouldn't have eaten so much. (= I ate too much)
•    She shouldn't have been listening to our conversation. It was private. (= she was listening)

Compare should (do) and should have (done):
•    You look tired. You should go to bed now.
• You went to bed very late last night. You should have gone to bed earlier.

Unit 33; Part D

Ought to ...
You can use ought to instead of should in the sentences on this page. We say 'ought to do' (with to):
•    Do you think I ought to apply for this job? (= Do you think I should apply ... ?)
•    Jack ought not to go to bed so late. (= Jack shouldn't go ...)
•    It was a great party last night. You ought to have come.
•    She's been studying hard for the exam, so she ought to pass.

Exercises

1 For each situation, write a sentence.

For each situation, write a sentence with should or shouldn't + the following:

~~go away for a few days~~ go to bed so late look for another job
put some pictures on the walls take a photograph use her car so much

1    Liz needs a change.   She should go away for a few days.
2    Your salary is very low.   You _________________________________
3    Jack always has difficulty getting up. He _________________________________
4    What a beautiful view!   You _________________________________
5    Sue drives everywhere. She never walks.   She _________________________________
6    Bill's room isn't very interesting. _________________________________

2 Read the situations and write sentences.

Read the situations and write sentences with I think/I don't think ... should ... .

1    Peter and Cathy are planning to get married. You think it's a bad idea.
      I don't think they should get married.
2    Jane has a bad cold but plans to go out this evening. You don't think this is a good idea.
      You say to her: _________________________________
3    Peterneeds a job. He's just seen an advertisement for a job which you thinkwould be ideal for him, but he's not sure whether to apply or not.
      You say to him: I think _________________________________
4    The government wants to increase taxes, but you don't think this is a good idea.
      _________________________________

3 Complete the sentences with should (have) + the verb in brackets.

Complete the sentences with should (have) + the verb in brackets.

1    Diane    should pass    the exam. She's been studying very hard. (pass)
2    You missed a great party last night.    You should have come. (come)
3    We don't see you enough. You _______________________ and see us more often. (come)
4    I'm in a difficult position. What do you think I _______________________? (do)
5    I'm sorry that I didn't take your advice. I _______________________ what you said. (do)
6    I'm playing tennis with Jane tomorrow. She _______________________ - she's much better than me. (win)
7    We lost the match, but we _______________________. We were the better team. (win)
8    'Is Mike here yet?' 'Not yet, but he _______________________ here soon.' (be)
9    I posted the letter three days ago, so it _______________________ by now. (arrive)

4 Read the situations and write sentences.

Read the situations and write sentences with should/shouldn't. Some of the sentences are past and some are present.

1    I'm feeling sick. I ate too much.
   I shouldn't have eaten so much.
2    That man on the motorbike isn't wearing a helmet. That's dangerous.
      He   should be wearing a helmet.
3    When we got to the restaurant, there were no free tables. We hadn't reserved one.
      We _____________________________
4    The notice says that the shop is open every day from 8.30. It is 9 o'clock now, but the shop isn't open yet.
      _____________________________
5    The speed limit is 30 miles an hour, but Kate is doing 50.
      She _____________________________
6    Laura gave me her address, but I didn't write it down. Now I can't remember it.
      I _____________________________
7    I was driving behindanother car. Suddenly, the driver in front stopped without warning andI drove into the back of his car. It wasn't my fault.
      The driver in front _____________________________
8    I walked into a wall. I was looking behind me. I wasn't looking where I was going.
      _____________________________

Unit 32 Unit 33 Unit 34