1. used to indicate obligation, duty, or correctness
表示義務、責任或正確性
You should finish your homework before playing.
你應該在玩之前把功課做完。
We should be more careful with our spending.
我們應該更謹慎地花錢。
Should Meaning（定義、用法、例句與發音）
should
modal
快速理解
What does "Should" mean?What are 2-3 core uses of "Should"?
「should」主要表達責任、建議、預期或可能性。
- 1
責任或義務
EN: You should tell the truth.
翻譯: 你應該說實話。
- 2
建議或忠告
EN: You should try the new restaurant.
翻譯: 你應該試試那家新餐廳。
- 3
預期或推測
EN: He should arrive by now.
翻譯: 他現在應該到了。
- 4
條件句中的假設
EN: If you should see him, please say hello.
翻譯: 萬一你見到他，請代我問好。
小提醒：「should」語氣比「must」溫和，表示建議而非強制命令。在條件句中，它常帶有「萬一」的假設語氣，而非單純的「如果」。
發音（How to Pronounce "Should" in English）
How to pronounce "Should" in English?"Should" US vs UK pronunciation
點擊下方的 US / UK 按鈕可播放發音。
Real-life Examples of "Should" from YouTube Videos
Steven Schwaitzberg: A universal translator for surgeons
TED
“just this past year, one of our partners, the American College of Surgeons, teamed up with us to make an announcement that all surgeons should be FLS (Fundamentals of Laparoscopic Surgery)-certified before they do minimally invasive surgery.”
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Definitions（定義）
What are the definitions of "Should"?How does "Should" change by context?
2. used to give or ask for advice
用於給予或尋求建議
What should I wear to the party?
我應該穿什麼去參加派對？
If you have a headache, you should rest.
如果你頭痛，你應該休息。
3. used to indicate expectation or probability
表示預期或可能性
The train should arrive in ten minutes.
火車應該在十分鐘內抵達。
He should be home by now.
他現在應該到家了。
4. used in conditional clauses to express a possible situation
用於條件句中表達可能的情況
If you should see him, please give him this message.
萬一你見到他，請把這個訊息給他。
Should you need any help, don't hesitate to ask.
如果你需要任何幫助，請儘管開口。
5. used after 'that' to express a strong opinion or emotion
用於 'that' 之後，表達強烈的意見或情感
It's surprising that she should say such a thing.
她竟然會說出這樣的話，真是令人驚訝。
I find it odd that he should refuse our offer.
他竟然拒絕我們的提議，我覺得很奇怪。
Grammar & Patterns（句型）
What are common sentence patterns for "Should"?How to make natural sentences with "Should"?
| Pattern | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| should + V (base form) | 表示建議、義務或預期 | You should drink more water. (你應該多喝水。) |
| should + have + past participle | 表示過去應該做但未做的事 | I should have studied harder. (我當初應該更用功讀書的。) |
| should + be + V-ing | 表示現在應該正在進行的事 | He should be working right now. (他現在應該正在工作。) |
| should + not + V (shouldn't) | 表示不應該做某事 | You shouldn't eat so much junk food. (你不應該吃這麼多垃圾食物。) |
| Why should + S + V? | 用於質疑某事的必要性或合理性 | Why should I apologize? (我為什麼要道歉？) |
| I should + V (if I were you) | 給予建議的委婉說法 | I should take a break if I were you. (如果我是你，我會休息一下。) |
| should + S + V (invert for formal/conditional) | 用於正式條件句或疑問句 | Should you need any help, please call me. (如果你需要任何幫助，請打電話給我。) |
用法說明
How is "Should" different from similar structures?What usage mistakes are common with "Should"?
should + V 與 should + have + V-ed
- should + 動詞原形 (V) 用於表達現在或未來「應該」做的事，或給出建議。
- should + have + 過去分詞 (V-ed) 用於表達過去「本應該」做但實際上沒有做的事，帶有後悔或責備的語氣。
- 兩者都是情態動詞的用法，後面直接接動詞，不加
to。 - 否定形式分別為 should not (shouldn't) + V 與 should not (shouldn't) have + V-ed。 EN: You should save some money for emergencies. 翻譯: 你應該存點錢以備不時之需。
EN:You should have saved some money for emergencies.
翻譯:你本該存點錢以備不時之需的。
EN:He should call his parents more often.
翻譯:他應該更常打電話給父母。
EN:He should have called his parents yesterday.
翻譯:他昨天本該打電話給父母的。
總結建議
使用 should have + V-ed 來談論過去未履行的義務或遺憾，而 should + V 則用於現在或未來的建議。
易混淆對比
What is the difference between "Should" and similar words?How to choose "Should" vs alternatives?
should vs must
"should" 表示建議或較弱的義務，而 "must" 表示強制性義務或必要性。
should vs ought to
"should" 和 "ought to" 都表示義務或建議，但 "ought to" 語氣稍強，且更基於道德或外部規則。
should vs had better
"should" 給出一般性建議，而 "had better" 用於特定情況下的強烈警告，暗示不做會有負面後果。
口語用法
How is "Should" used in spoken English?What is the spoken vs formal difference for "Should"?
引述
在轉述他人的話語或想法時，常用 "should" 來表示間接引述，語氣比直接引述更委婉。 EN: He said we should meet at the cafe. 翻譯: 他說我們應該在咖啡館見面。
EN:I thought you should know about the change in plans.
翻譯:我認為你應該知道計畫有變。
語氣強調
在口語中，有時會用 "should" 來加強語氣，表達一種強烈的推斷或驚訝，常與 "think" 或 "imagine" 等動詞連用。 EN: I should think so! It's the most obvious solution. 翻譯: 我當然這麼認為！這是最明顯的解決辦法了。
EN:Who should walk in but our old teacher from high school!
翻譯:你猜走進來的是誰？竟然是我們高中的老師！
停頓填充
在思考或組織語句時，有時會用 "I should..." 或 "you should..." 作為短暫的停頓填充詞，後續可能接上建議或想法。 EN: Well, I should... maybe we try calling them first? 翻譯: 嗯，我覺得...或許我們先打個電話給他們？
EN:If you ask me, you should... oh, never mind, just do what you think is best.
翻譯:如果你問我，你應該...哦，算了，就做你覺得最好的吧。
正式寫作注意：上述口語用法，特別是「語氣強調」和「停頓填充」，在正式或學術寫作中應避免使用，以保持文體的嚴謹與簡潔。
常見短語
What common collocations use "Should"?What fixed phrases with "Should" should I remember?
should have
should have + past participle
表示過去應該做但未做的事，或對過去情況的推測
should be
should be + adjective/noun/present participle
表示預期、推測或建議的狀態
should do
should + bare infinitive
表示給出建議、提出義務或表達期望
should not / shouldn't
should not + bare infinitive
表示不建議、禁止或認為某事不明智
why should...?
Why should + subject + bare infinitive...?
用於質疑某事的必要性或合理性，常帶有不耐煩或挑戰語氣
should think / imagine / say
I should think/imagine/say + (that) clause
用於表達個人意見、推測或強調，語氣較委婉或正式
if...should...
If + subject + should + bare infinitive...
用於表達未來較不可能發生的狀況，語氣比單純用 "if" 更正式或更不確定
常見錯誤
What are common mistakes with "Should"?Which "Should" sentences look correct but are wrong?
×You must go to bed early if you are tired.
✓You should go to bed early if you are tired.
使用 'must' 表示強制或絕對必要，語氣過強。'should' 用於建議或較溫和的勸告，更適合表達個人意見或推薦。
×If you should see him, please tell him to call me.
✓If you see him, please tell him to call me.
在真實條件句（表示可能發生的情況）中，'if' 從句通常使用一般現在時，而非 'should'。'If you should see him...' 是正式或較舊的用法，現代英語中較少見。
×You should went to the doctor yesterday.
✓You should have gone to the doctor yesterday.
對過去事件的建議或批評，應使用 'should have + 過去分詞'，表示過去應該做但未做的事。不能使用過去式動詞。
×Should I to call him now?
✓Should I call him now?
'Should' 是情態動詞，後面直接接原形動詞，不加 'to'。這是情態動詞的基本規則。
×If I were you, I would to take a break.
✓If I were you, I would take a break.
此錯誤混淆了 'should' 和 'would' 的用法。在 'If I were you...' 的虛擬語氣中，通常使用 'would' 來表達自己會採取的行動。'should' 在此結構中較少用，且情態動詞後不加 'to'。
×He should here by now. The meeting started ten minutes ago.
✓He should be here by now. The meeting started ten minutes ago.
'Should' 用於推測現在或未來的高可能性時，必須與原形動詞 'be' 連用，構成 'should be'。不能省略 'be' 動詞。
詞形變化
What are the word forms of "Should"?What are tense/participle forms of "Should"?