Level A2

Should: advice and expectation

You should sleep.

You should sleep. First should, then the plain action word.

Forms

• You should sleep. — should gives advice: it is a good idea
• He should see a doctor. — should stays the same with he, and the action word is in its plain form
• You shouldn't eat so much. — advice not to do it: shouldn't

A common mistake

Wrong: A good teacher is should love his subject.

Right: A good teacher should love his subject.

A common mistake is an extra be before it: A good teacher is should love his subject. We say A good teacher should love his subject.

More examples

You should drink more water.

Advice about health: You should drink more water.

They shouldn't wait outside.

And the other way round: They shouldn't wait outside.