| A |
You can use should after:
insist recommend suggest demand propose
- I insisted that he should apologise.
- Doctors recommend that everyone should eat plenty of fruit.
- What do you suggest we should do?
- Many people are demanding that something should be done about the problem.
also
It's important/vital/necessary/essential that ... should ... :
- It's essential that everyone should be here on time.
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| B |
You can also leave out should in the sentences in section A. So you can say:
- It's essential that everyone be here on time. (= ... that everyone should be here)
- I insisted that he apologise. (= ... that he should apologise)
- What do you suggest we do?
- Many people are demanding that something be done about the problem.
This form (be/do/apologise etc.) is called the subjunctive. It is the same as the infinitive (without to). You can also use normal present and past tenses:
- It's essential that everyone is here on time.
- I insisted that he apologised.
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| C |
After suggest, you cannot use to ... ('to do I to buy' etc.). You can say:
- What do you suggest we should do?
or What do you suggest we do? (but not What do you suggest us to do?)
- Jane won the lottery.
I suggested that she should buy a car with the money she'd won.
or I suggested that she buy a car.
or I suggested that she bought a car. (but not I suggested her to buy)
You can also use -ing after suggest (What do you suggest doing?). See Unit 53.
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| D |
You can use should after a number of adjectives, especially:
strange odd funny typical natural interesting surprised surprising
- It's strange that he should be late. He's usually on time.
- I was surprised that he should say such a thing.
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| E |
You can say 'If something should happen ... '. For example:
- We have no jobs at present, but if the situation should change, we will contact you.
You can also begin with should (Should something happen ... ):
- Should the situation change, we will contact you.
This means the same as 'If the situation changes, ... '. With should, the speaker feels that the possibility is smaller.
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| F |
You can use I should ... / I shouldn't ... to give somebody advice. For example:
- 'Shall I leave now?' 'No, I should wait a bit.'
Here, I should wait = I would wait if I were you, I advise you to wait.
More examples:
- ‘I'm going out now. Is it cold out?’ ‘Yes, I should wear a coat.’
- I shouldn't stay up too late. You have to be up early tomorrow.
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