1. I do not know which decision is best
Asking for advice means asking someone to evaluate an idea or suggest an action. You are still deciding what to do and want another person’s opinion.
Should I…? concerns your decision; Should we…? concerns a group’s decision when you belong to that group. It is neither an order to the listener nor a statement of a choice already made.
Should I keep the box?
Should I keep the box?
The box has not been thrown away yet; the speaker wants to evaluate the option.
Should we meet online?
Should we meet online?
A group member asks for advice about a shared decision.
2. Yes/no questions: should before the subject
In an ordinary direct question, should comes before the person who will perform the action. After the subject, put the base verb: keep, go, choose, be.
Do not add do, does or did to should. Should itself forms this question. It does not need to or an -s ending after it; for a state, use be, rather than am/is/are.
Should + subject + base verb + …?
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V1 / base form —
- The base verb without to: work, go, be.
Should I be early?
Should I be early?
Be remains in its base form after should.
Should we take a map?
Should we take a map?
The order is should → we → take; there is no additional do.
3. Specify which advice you need
If you need a detail rather than an evaluation of a ready-made idea, begin with a question word: what asks for a thing or action, where for a place or destination, when for a time, and how for a method.
After the question word, these questions keep the order should + subject + verb. Compare Should we meet?, which asks whether meeting is advisable, with Where should we meet?, which asks for the best place. Which can be used with a noun: Which room…?
If you ask about the person performing the action, the question word is already the subject: Who should bring the key? There is then no separate I/we between should and bring.
Question word / phrase + should + subject + base verb + …?
- subject / S —
- The grammatical subject: who or what the clause is about; the verb agrees with it. In The book was written, the book is the subject, although someone else does the action.
- verb / V —
- A word for an action or state, such as work or be. The pattern determines its form.
- V1 / base form —
- The base verb without to: work, go, be.
When should I send the invitation?
When should I send the invitation?
Advice about time is needed, rather than a yes/no answer.
Which room should we use?
Which room should we use?
Which room is one question phrase before should.
How should I start the message?
How should I start the message?
We ask about the method of performing the action.
4. Who makes the decision?
The subject names the person performing the action, rather than necessarily the person addressed. When asking a friend about your own choice, use I, rather than you.
Should works with more than I/we: you can ask for an opinion about a colleague’s, guests’ or team’s decision. With he, she, they and nouns, should does not change form.
Should she bring her laptop?
Should she bring her laptop?
The advice concerns another person; bring does not take -s.
Where should our team meet?
Where should our team meet?
Our team comes between should and meet just as we does.
You should keep a copy. — Should I keep a copy?
You should keep a copy. — Should I keep a copy?
When the speaker changes, you can become I; an exercise must make this change explicit.
5. Similar questions, different purposes
Should I use this room? asks for advice in a conversation about the best place. Can I use this room? can ask for permission when speaking to the person responsible for the room. Could you open the window? asks the listener to perform an action. Meaning depends on both the words and the situation.
Do I call first? is a grammatical question about the order of actions; Must I call first? asks about necessity. They do not become grammatical errors just because this lesson practises should.
I should call first? can also be a valid conversational check of advice just heard. For a new neutral direct request, practise Should I call first? An echo question does not need correcting outside that task requirement.
Should I use the small table? I want enough space to work.
Should I use the small table? I want enough space to work.
The purpose is to choose a convenient option.
Can I use the small table? Is it reserved?
Can I use the small table? Is it reserved?
Here permission matters, rather than advice about convenience.
You should call first. — I should call first?
You should call first. — I should call first?
The second turn can check whether the advice was heard correctly; it is not a neutral question with inversion.
6. From a first question to a useful follow-up
Briefly explain the problem, ask your question, then clarify what you still do not know after the answer. If you have already been advised to send a letter, you can ask when or how best to do so.
Not every sentence in the conversation needs should. The context can be a simple statement, with only the question using the target construction. Compare your own answers with the model by meaning and form; natural synonyms are allowed.
Here we work with advice about a present or future choice. Should have about the past, assumptions about likelihood and complex negative questions are separate topics.
The file is too large. What should I do?
The file is too large. What should I do?
First the problem, then an open request for advice.
Send a shorter version. — Which part should I remove?
Send a shorter version. — Which part should I remove?
The follow-up takes the advice into account and asks for a new detail.
Common mistakes
Incorrect:Do I should bring a notebook?
Correct:Should I bring a notebook?
Should forms the question itself; do before it is unnecessary.
Incorrect:Should we to book a table?
Correct:Should we book a table?
After should, use the base form book without to.
Incorrect:Should she takes the bus?
Correct:Should she take the bus?
Do not add -s after should, even with she.
Incorrect:Shoulds I wait outside?
Correct:Should I wait outside?
The modal should has no form shoulds.
Incorrect:Where should we are at noon?
Correct:Where should we be at noon?
For a state or location after should, use be, rather than are.