How do you use the word "should" in a sentence?

Here are real-life examples of using "should": Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones. You should have listened to me.

Should Meaning

/ʃəd/

Definition, CEFR level A1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.

Definition

verbsimple past of shall

verbOught to; indicating opinion, advice, or instruction, about what is required or desirable., Used to issue an instruction (traditionally seen as carrying less force of authority than alternatives such as 'shall' or 'must').

Sentence Examples

Those who live in glass houses should not throw stones.

You should have listened to me.

The state spends taxpayers’ money and should be held accountable.

CEFR Practice Quiz

It is essential that you ____ check your email every morning for updates.

CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)

Everyone agreed that we ____ definitely finish the project today to meet the client's strict deadline.

Word Origin & History

From Middle English scholde, from Old English sċolde, first and third person preterite form of sċulan (“should,” “have to,” “to owe”), the ancestor of English shall. By surface analysis, shall + -ed. Cognate with German sollte, Gothic 𐍃𐌺𐌿𐌻𐌳𐌰 (skulda), Swedish skulle. Related to Middle English shild and shildy. The loss of /l/ in this word is probably due to weak stress, as in would and could (though in the latter, the /l/ was due to the analogy of the former two).

Literary Quotations & Historical Citations

"I was astonished at this polite offer, which my modesty induced me to ascribe more to my uniform than to my own merits, and, as I felt no inclination to refuse the compliment, I said that I should be most happy." — 1833, [Frederick Marryat], chapter IV, in Peter Simple. […], volume I, London: Saunders and Otley, […], published 1834, →OCLC, page 42:

"Next month, Clemons will be brought before a court presided over by a "special master", who will review the case one last time. The hearing will be unprecedented in its remit, but at its core will be a simple issue: should Reggie Clemons live or die?" — 2012 August 21, Ed Pilkington, “Death penalty on trial: should Reggie Clemons live or die?”, in The Guardian:

"'One kiss, my bonny sweetheart, I'm after a prize to-night, / But I shall be back with the yellow gold before the morning light; / Yet, if they press me sharply, and harry me through the day, / Then look for me by moonlight, / Watch for me by moonlight, / I'll come to thee by moonlight, though Hell should bar the way.'" — 1906 August, Alfred Noyes, “The Highwayman”, in Poems, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., published October 1906, →OCLC, part 1, stanza V, page 47:

"It was a long weary time, for the Boy was too ill to play, and the little Rabbit found it rather dull with nothing to do all day long. But he snuggled down patiently, and looked forward to the time when the Boy should be well again, and they would go out in the garden amongst the flowers and the butterflies and play splendid games in the raspberry thicket like they used to." — 1921 June, Margery Williams, “The Velveteen Rabbit: Or How Toys Become Real”, in Harper’s Bazar, volume LVI, number 6 (2504 overall), New York, N.Y.: International Magazine Company, →ISSN, →OCLC:

"And I'd be a fool right now If I should hurt you girl And I'd be a fool right now If I should leave you girl" — 1968 December 8, Henry Cosby, Sylvia Moy, Stevie Wonder, “I’d Be a Fool Right Now”, in For Once in My Life, performed by Stevie Wonder, Tamla Records:

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