What Is Should? Definition And Usage Of This Term

WHAT IS SHOULD– In this topic, we will first know the definition of this term and how is this term used in sentences.

Definition

The Oxford Dictionary described this term as the following:

used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness, typically when criticizing someone’s actions
indicating a desirable or expected state.
used to give or ask advice or suggestions
used to indicate what is probable.
referring to a possible event or situation.
indicating the consequence of an imagined event
used in a clause with “that” after a main clause describing feelings.

On the other hand, the Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines this term as the following:

used in auxiliary function to express condition
used in auxiliary function to express obligation, propriety, or expediency
used in auxiliary function to express futurity from a point of view in the past
used in auxiliary function to express what is probable or expected
used in auxiliary function to express a request in a polite manner or to soften direct statement

Etymology

It is derived from the Old English sceolde which past of the term shall.

Examples

Here are some of the examples:

“But you thought you should defend me,” he said in a calculating tone.
If it’s something we simply can’t afford, that’s one thing, but we should be encouraging things like this, Alex.
So the governor sent a messenger to Delphi to ask the oracle what should be done with the tripod.
If instead of a divine power some other force has appeared, it should be explained in what this new force consists, for the whole interest of history lies precisely in that force.