Fill in the blanks with should, should be or should have been.
Should be refers to the present and future. Should have been refers to the past.
1You ............... something about it before it gets worse.
Wrong!
Use "should do" to give advice about an action that is still possible.
2You ............... something before the situation got out of hand.
Wrong!
Use "should have done" to criticize a past action that did not happen.
3You ............... there when they sign the papers.
Wrong!
Use "should be" to say where someone ought to be in a present or future situation.
4You ............... there when they signed the papers.
Wrong!
Use "should have been" to say where someone ought to have been in a past situation.
5You ............... me you weren't coming.
Wrong!
Use "should have told" to say that telling someone was the right action in the past.
6I ............... to him. His advice landed me in trouble.
Wrong!
Use "should not have listened" to express regret about listening in the past.
7You ............... to wise people if you want good advice.
Select 2 answers.
Wrong!
Use "should listen" for general advice about what to do now or in the future; "should be listening" is also possible. "Should have listened" refers to the past and does not fit "if you want".
8We are going to Malaysia in November. That ............... nice.
Wrong!
Use "should be" to make a confident prediction about a future situation.
9You ............... kind to all people.
Wrong!
Use "should be" to talk about a general duty or correct behaviour.
10I don't think that you ............... so much money on cosmetics.
Wrong!
Use "should spend" after "do not think" to give negative advice about a present habit or future action.
11It is important that the meeting ............... on time.
Wrong!
Use "should start" after "It is important that" to say what is necessary.
12Do you think that we ............... her?
Wrong!
Use "should tell" to ask for advice about a possible action.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- You should do something about it before it gets worse.
- You should have done something before the situation got out of hand.
- You should be there when they sign the papers.
- You should have been there when they signed the papers.
- You should have told me you weren’t coming.
- I should not have listened to him. His advice landed me in trouble.
- You should listen / should be listening to wise people if you want good advice.
- We are going to Malaysia in November. That should be nice.
- You should be kind to all people.
- I don’t think that you should spend so much money on cosmetics.
- It is important that the meeting should start on time.
- Do you think that we should tell her?