A. You can use should after a number of verbs, especially:
suggest propose recommend
insist demand
* They
insisted that we should have dinner with them.
* I
demanded that he should apologise.
* What
do you suggest I should do?
In the
same way, you can use should after suggestion/proposal/recommendation etc.
* What
do you think of Jane's suggestion that I should buy a car?
and also
after 'it's important/vital/necessary/essential that ...'
* It's
essential that you should be here on time.
B. You
can also leave out should in all the sentences in Section A:
* It's
essential that you be here on time. (= that you should be here)
* I
demanded that he apologise.
* What
do you suggest I do?
This
form (you be/he apologise etc.) is sometimes called the subjunctive.
You can
also use normal present and past tenses:
* It's
essential that you are here on time.
* I
demanded that he apologised.
Be
careful with suggest. You cannot use to ... ('to do/to buy' etc.) after
suggest:
* What
do you suggest we should do?
or What
do you suggest we do? (but not 'What do you suggest us to do?')
* Jane
suggested that I (should) buy a car.
or Jane
suggested that I bought a car. (but not 'Jane suggested me to buy')
For
suggest ~ing, see Unit 52.
C. You
can use should after a number of adjectives, especially:
strange odd funny
typical natural interesting
surprised surprising
* It's
strange that he should be late. He's usually on time.
* I was
surprised that she should say such a thing.
D. If ... should...
You can
say 'If something should happen...'. For example:
* If Tom
should phone while I'm out, tell him I'll phone him back later.
'If Tom
should phone' is similar to 'If Tom phones'. With should, the speaker feels
that the possibility is smaller. Another example:
* I've
left the washing outside. If it should rain, can you bring it in?
You can
also put should at the beginning of these sentences (Should something happen
...):
* Should
Tom phone, can you tell him I'll phone him back later?
E. You
can use I should .../I shouldn't ... to give somebody advice. For example:
* 'Shall
I leave now?' 'No, I should wait a bit longer.'
Here, 'I
should wait'= 'I would wait if I were you, I advise you to wait'. Two more
examples:
* It's
very cold this morning. I should wear a coat when you go out.
* I
shouldn't stay up too late. You'll be tired tomorrow.
EXERCISES
34.1
Write a sentence (beginning in the way shown) that means the same as the first
sentence.
1. 'I think
it would be a good idea to see a specialist,' the doctor said to me.
The
doctor recommended that I should see a specialist.
2. 'You
really must stay a little longer,' she said to me.
She
insisted that ---.
3. 'Why
don't you visit the museum after lunch?' I said to them.
I
suggested that ---.
4. 'You
must pay the rent by Friday,' the landlord said to us.
The
landlord demanded that ---.
5. 'Why
don't you go away for a few days?'Jack said to me.
Jack
suggested that ---.
34.2 Are
these sentences right or wrong?
1. a Tom
suggested that I should look for another job. RIGHT
b Tom
suggested that I look for another job. ---
c Tom
suggested that I looked for another job. ---
d Tom
suggested me to look for another job. ---.
2. a
Where do you suggest I go for my holiday? ---
b Where
do you suggest me to go for my holiday? ---
c Where
do you suggest I should go for my holiday? ---
34.3
Complete the sentences using should + one of these verbs:
ask be
leave listen say
worry
1. It's strange that she _should be_ late.
She's usually on time.
2. It's
funny that you --- that. I was going to say the same thing.
3. It's
only natural that parents --- about their children.
4. Isn't
it typical of Ron that he --- without saying goodbye to anybody?
5. I was
surprised that he --- me for advice. What advice could I give him?
6. It's
very important that everybody --- very carefully.
34.4
Complete these sentences using if ... should... .
1. (It's
possible that you'll see Tom this evening.)
_If you
should see Tom this evening_, can you ask him to phone me?
2. (It's
possible that Ann will arrive before I get home.)
If ---,
can you look after her until I come?
3.
(Perhaps there will be some letters for me while I'm away.)
---, can you send them on to this address?
4. (I
don't suppose you'll need help but you might.)
---, let
me know.
Write
sentences 3 and 4 again, this time beginning with should.
5. (3)
---, can you send them on to this address?
6. (4)
---.
34.5
(Section E) Complete the sentences using I should + one of these verbs:
buy keep
phone wait
1.
'Shall I leave now?' 'No, _I should wait_ a bit longer.'
2.
'Shall I throw these things away?' 'No --- them. You may need them.'
3.
'Shall I go and see Paul?' 'Yes, but --- him first.'
4. 'Do you think it's worth repairing this TV
set?' 'No --- a new onethe answer
34.1
2 I
should stay/I stay/I stayed a little longer.
3 they
should visit/they visit/they visited the museum after lunch.
4 we
should pay/we pay/we paid the rent by Friday.
5 I
should go/I go/I went away for a few days.
34.2
1 b.
right c. right d. wrong
2 a.
right b. wrong c. right
34.3
2 should
say
3 should
worry
4 should
leave
5 should
ask
6 should
listen
34.4
2 If Ann
should arrive before I get home
3 If
there should be some/any letters for me while I'm away
4 If you
should need (any) help
5 Should
there be some/any letters for me while I'm away
6 Should
you need (any) help, let me know.
34.5
2 I
should keep
3 I
should phone
4 I
should buy
