What does “should” mean?
- 1
modal verbused to give advice or say what is right
You should drink more water.
- 2
modal verbused to say that something is likely or expected
The package should arrive tomorrow.
Should at a glance
- Part of speech
- modal verb
- CEFR level
- A1 (beginner)
- Pronunciation
- /ʃʊd/ · SHOOD
How to use “should” correctly
After “should” use the base verb without “to”: “You should go”, not “You should to go”.
Common phrases with “should”
- should have done
- you should
- should I
“should” is on these word lists
Learn these words next
- can modal verbA1to be able to do something, or to know how to do it
- could modal verbA1used as the past of “can” to talk about ability
- would modal verbA1used to talk about imagined situations
- may modal verbA2used to say that something is possible but not certain
- might modal verbA2used to say that something is possible, often less likely than with “may”
- must modal verbA2used to say that something is necessary or very important