The modals’would’ and ‘should’ can both be used with first person pronouns I and weas the less definite form of will and shall. Note that should is not normally used with this meaning in American English.
In both British and American English, we use ‘should’ to talk about obligations.
‘Would’ is mainly used to talk about past habits.
Can you use would and should correctly? Test your understanding with this grammar exercise.
1Everybody ............... wear seat belts.
Wrong!
Use "should" to give advice or say what is the right thing to do.
2When we were kids, we ............... spend hours playing football.
Wrong!
Use "would" to describe a repeated habit in the past.
3I told them we ............... probably be late.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
"Would" is the usual future form in reported speech after a past verb like "told"; with "I" or "we", "should" is also possible in formal British English.
4We ............... be grateful for an early reply.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Both "would" and "should" are possible in the formal polite phrase "We would/should be grateful for an early reply"; "should" with "I" or "we" is common in formal British letters.
5People ............... drive more carefully.
Wrong!
Use "should" to give advice about how people ought to drive.
6............... you like something to eat?
Wrong!
Use "Would" in the polite offer "Would you like...?"
7............... we invite Mary?
Wrong!
Use "Should" to ask for advice or a suggestion about what to do.
8You ............... not have called him a fool; it really upset him.
Wrong!
Use "should" in "should not have" to criticize a past action.
9I knew that I ............... write to her, but it seemed too difficult.
Wrong!
Use "should" to express a duty or obligation that the speaker recognized.
10............... we call the police?
Wrong!
Use "Should" to ask for advice about an immediate decision.
11I wish you ............... behave like this.
Wrong!
Use "wouldn't" after "wish" to complain about someone's repeated behavior.
12I wish it ............... stop raining.
Wrong!
Use "would" after "wish" to express a desire for a situation to change.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- Everybody should wear seat belts.
- When we were kids, we would spend hours playing football.
- I told them we would / should probably be late.
- We would / should be grateful for an early reply.
- People should drive more carefully.
- Would you like something to eat?
- Should we invite Mary?
- You should not have called him a fool; it really upset him.
- I knew that I should write to her, but it seemed too difficult.
- Should we call the police?
- I wish you wouldn’t behave like this.
- I wish it would stop raining.