Fill in the blanks with should or would.
1. Janet ……………………. be here soon.
We use should to indicate possibility.
2. …………………………. I turn the heating on?
We use should to ask for a suggestion.
3. They ……………………… be invited to the party.
We use should to express necessity.
4. People ………………………. obey traffic laws.
We use should to express necessity.
5. You …………………………… say things like that to Granny.
6. I …………………………. call if I arrived early.
In the second conditional, we use a past tense in the if-clause and would + infinitive in the main clause.
7. I ………………………………. be grateful if you could help me.
Both would and should can be used with the first person pronouns with little difference of meaning.
8. ……………………………. you like something to drink?
We use would in polite offers and requests.
9. ……………………………. I talk to the manager?
10. I knew that I ………………………… stop hating her, but it seemed rather difficult.
11. You ………………………….. have sent the parcel this morning.
12. You ……………………………. have wasted so much time on this.
Answers
1. Janet should be here soon.
2. Should I turn the heating on?
3. They should be invited to the party.
4. People should obey traffic laws.
5. You shouldn’t say things like that to Granny.
6. I would call if I arrived early.
7. I would / should be grateful if you could help me.
8. Would you like something to drink?
9. Should I talk to the manager?
10. I knew that I should stop hating her, but it seemed rather difficult.
11. You should have sent the parcel this morning.
12. You should not have wasted so much time on this.
