Would is the past tense form of will in indirect speech. We use should to express ideas such as obligation, necessity etc. Should is also used to make suggestions and to give advice.
Fill in the blanks with would or should.
1. I am feeling tired. I ......................... go to bed.
Correct!
Wrong!
Should shows ideas such as necessity, obligation etc.
2. He said that he ........................... be working late.
Correct!
Wrong!
'I will be working late,' he said. He said that he would be working late.
3. You ............................... not ignore symptoms like these.
Correct!
Wrong!
4. I think you ................................... try again.
Correct!
Wrong!
5. She said that she ........................... make another attempt.
Correct!
Wrong!
6. The government .............................. do something for the poor and the needy.
Correct!
Wrong!
7. '............................ we invite Sally to the party?'
Correct!
Wrong!
We use should to ask for a suggestion.
8. 'I ........................ rather you didn't invite her.'
Correct!
Wrong!
Would is used with rather to show preference.
9. You ............................ not waste so much money on gadgets.
Correct!
Wrong!
10. ........................... we wait for him?
Correct!
Wrong!
11. When he grew old, he ........................... spend the whole day in bed.
Correct!
Wrong!
12. I don't think that you ............................ trust him.
Correct!
Wrong!
Should is commonly used to give advice after expressions like I think / I don't think... etc.
Answers
- I am feeling tired. I should go to bed.
- He said that he would be working late.
- You should not ignore symptoms like these.
- I think you should try again.
- She said that she would make another attempt.
- The government should do something for the poor and the needy.
- ‘Should we invite Sally to the party?’
- ‘I would rather you didn’t invite her.’
- You should not waste so much money on gadgets.
- Should we wait for him?
- When he grew old, he would spend the whole day in bed.
- I don’t think that you should trust him.
