should

Examples

• All

• I should have studied more.

• You should have told me about the change in schedule before I arrived.

• They should have checked the weather forecast before planning the picnic.

• You should have called earlier.

• You should have told me about the change in schedule before I arrived.

• They should have checked the weather forecast before planning the picnic.

• I realize now that I should have listened to your advice.

Synonyms

S

shoulda

vsshould

• Informal

8.4

To say in casual speech that someone needed to do something or it would have been better in the past

is the standard formal expression for past expectation or criticism

O

ought

vsshould

3.4

To be expected or right to do something and likely to happen

specifies past expectation or regret not general moral duty

S

supposed to

vsshould

2.1

To be expected to happen or to be required to do something

focuses on past expectation or criticism rather than present obligation

S

shouldst

vsshould

• Archaic

9.9

To be an old form people used with 'thou' to give advice or talk about duty

is the modern standard form used in other persons and registers

S

shouldest

vsshould

• Archaic

9.9

To be an old second-person form used with thou to show duty or advice

is the regular modern form used across persons and registers

Idioms

W

who should not

• Informal

32 9.9

You say this after praising yourself to seem modest or unsure

Y

you should see the other guy

• Informal

9.7

Says as a joke to show someone else is more hurt after a fight

Z

to zig when he should zag

• Informal

9.9

To make the wrong choice when a different action is needed

Z

to zig when someone should zag

• Informal

9.9

To do the wrong thing when a different action is needed

Surface Forms

Etymology