Fill in the blanks with would or should.
1. If she left office at six, she ……………….. be here soon.
We use should to indicate logical possibility.
2. …………………………. I write to him?
We use should to ask for a suggestion.
3. She ……………………………. be informed.
We use should to express necessity.
4. You ………………………….. always speak the truth.
We use should to express necessity.
5. You …………………………… talk back to your parents.
6. I …………………………. bake a cake if I got time.
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 some coffee?
Would is used to make an offer sound more polite.
9. You ………………………… consult a financial advisor before investing your money.
Should is used to tell people what they should do.
10. I knew that I ………………………… quit smoking.
11. You …………………………… have wished her on her birthday.
12. You ……………………………. have sent the letter.
Answers
1. If she left office at six, she should be here soon.
2. Should I write to him?
3. She should be informed.
4. You should always speak the truth.
5. You shouldn’t talk back to your parents.
6. I would bake a cake if I got time.
7. I would / should be grateful if you could help me.
8. Would you like some coffee?
9. You should consult a financial advisor before investing your money.
10. I knew that I should quit smoking.
11. You should have wished her on her birthday.
12. You should have sent the letter.
