Should: Advice and Recommendation

should belongs to a special group of words called modal verbs. These words are a bit like superheroes; they have their own special rules. The best part? They are incredibly simple once you know the secret. Unlike regular verbs, should never changes its shape. You don't need to worry about adding -s, -ed, or -ing. It stays exactly the same for every person. Whether you are talking about yourself, your cat, or a group of strangers, should remains should. It is also a "helper" verb. This means it always sits right before the main action of your sentence. It’s like a supportive friend standing right next to the star of the show.

1. 1Building a sentence with should is as easy as making a sandwich. Just follow these three simple steps:
2. 2Start with your Subject (I, you, he, she, it, we, they).
3. 3Add the word should (or shouldn't for the negative).
4. 4Add the Base Verb (the simplest form of the action, like go, eat, or sleep).
5. 5Positive: Subject + should + Base Verb.
6. 6Example: You should try the pizza.
7. 7Negative: Subject + should not (or shouldn't) + Base Verb.
8. 8Example: He shouldn't stay up so late.
9. 9Question: Should + Subject + Base Verb?
10. 10Example: Should we call a taxi?
11. 11Notice that we never use to after should. Saying "I should to go" is a classic mistake that will make a native speaker's ears twitch. Just skip the to and go straight to the action!

We use should in several real-world situations. Let's look at three common scenarios:

• Scenario 1: Giving Advice. Imagine you are at a restaurant. Your friend is looking at the menu, and you know the spicy tacos are amazing. You say, "You should try the tacos!" You aren't forcing them, but you are sharing your wisdom.
• Scenario 2: Asking for Directions. You are lost in a new city. You stop someone and ask, "Should I turn left at the next corner?" You are looking for their recommendation on the best path to take.
• Scenario 3: Job Interviews. During an interview, you might say, "A good employee should always be on time." Here, you are talking about an expectation or a duty. It shows you understand what is considered "right" in a professional setting.

You can also use should to talk about things you expect to happen. "The train should be here in five minutes." This means you believe it will happen based on the schedule.

Don't use should when something is a strict law or a total necessity. If a police officer sees you speeding, they won't say, "You should stop." They will say, "You must stop!" should is for opinions and good ideas, not for life-or-death rules. Also, avoid using should for physical abilities. If you want to say you know how to swim, use can, not should. Saying "I should swim" sounds like you are giving yourself advice to go to the pool, not describing your skills. Finally, don't use it for things that are 100% certain. If the sun rises every day, we don't say it should rise; we say it does rise.

Yes, even native speakers mess this up sometimes! The most common error is adding an s for the third person. People often want to say "He shoulds go." This is a big no-no. Modal verbs are rebels; they hate the letter s. Another mistake is the "silent L" confusion. The l in should is completely silent. It sounds like "shood" (rhyming with "good"). If you pronounce the l, you might get some confused looks. Lastly, remember the to rule mentioned earlier. should and to are like oil and water—they just don't mix. Keep them far apart in your sentences.

How does should compare to its cousins?

• must: This is the bossy cousin. Use must for rules and obligations. "You must wear a seatbelt."
• ought to: This is the fancy, old-fashioned cousin. It means the exact same thing as should, but it sounds a bit more formal. "You ought to visit the museum." Most people just use should in daily life because it’s easier.
• had better: This is the serious cousin. It is used for advice with a warning. "You had better leave now, or you'll miss the flight!" It implies that something bad will happen if you don't follow the advice.