Lesson 7

Use of should for ‘suggestions’, ‘opinions’, ‘feelings’ (Gethin, 11F, pp. 136-138)


 1. In rather the same way as we use would or could for wishes

we can use should

for demands, consent, suggestions or recommendations, opinions expressed with

it is / was + adjective and feelings such as surprise, regret and indignation.


 2. The effect of using should is to keep

what may happen or what has happened as non-fact,

rather than let it join the world of possible or past fact. When, for example,

we ask ourselves ‘Why should she have changed her mind?’ we are not yet

quite ready to accept the fact that she has changed it.

Without the should, we have accepted it.


 3. The common use of should in this way is

in that clauses which take the place of an -ing construction or

the infinitive with or without for. When used for feelings,

should is an addition.


 4. There are some forms of rhetorical question, i.e.,

a question wich does not expect an answer, expressing surprise or indignation

in which should is always used:

She asked me where Lucy was. How should I know?


 5. Should used in the way described above and also after in case and if is called

putative should.

It cannot be replaced by would or ought to,

and cannot be contracted to ‘d. It may be regarded as

a substitute for the present subjunctive which, although

not as common in British as in American English,

does occur in fairly formal language, particularly in demands and suggestions:

Helen insisted that I be her partner. She suggested that Willie be asked to join us.

In verbs other than to be the present subjunctive is recognisable only

in the third person singular (there is no ending –s):

She suggested that Willie join us.