should
(auxiliary)
LISTEN
You should drink 8 cups of water every day.
We often use the word should when we want to say that something is a good idea. The negative of should is shouldn’t (or should not).
- I should go to bed early tonight.
- You shouldn't eat burgers every day.
We also use should if we think that something is probably true, or that it will probably happen.
- If I leave now, I should arrive at 11:30.
- There should be 10 chocolates in the box.
Uses
We use a verb after should, but we never use to. For example, “I should go home” is correct but “I should to go home” is not correct.
In pop culture
In 1982, the English punk rock band The Clash released the song “Should I Stay or Should I Go?” The singer asks someone if she wants him or not. Listen to him say, “If you don’t want me, set me free.” That means that he wants to leave and be free if the woman doesn’t want him.
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