“should” – English explanatory dictionary

modal verb 1. used in giving advice or warnings, used to say what is the best thing to do ○ You should go to the doctor if your cough gets worse. ○ I should have been more careful. ○ She shouldn’t eat so much if she’s trying to lose weight. ○ Should I ask for more coffee? ○ Why should I clean up your mess? (NOTE: Ought to can be used instead of should.) 2. used to say what you expect to happen ○ If you leave now you should be there by 4 o’clock. ○ Their train should have arrived by now. ○ There shouldn’t be any more problems now. (NOTE: Ought to can be used instead of should.) 3. used to show a possibility ○ If the President should die in office, the Vice-President automatically takes over. ○ I’ll be in the next room should you need me. 4. same as would (dated.) ○ We should like to offer you our congratulations. ○ If I had enough money I should like to buy a new car. 5. past tense of shall (NOTE: The negative is should not, usually shouldn’t: Shall we go to an Indian restaurant? – I suggested we should go to an Indian restaurant.)

imp. of Shall. [OE. sholde, shulde, scholde, schulde, AS. scolde, sceolde. See Shall.] Used as an auxiliary verb, to express a conditional or contingent act or state, or as a supposition of an actual fact; also to express moral obligation (see Shall); e. g.: they should have come last week; if I should go; I should think you could go. ´You have done that you should be sorry for.´ Shak. Syn. — See Ought.