表示“应该,应当”
He should work harder. 他应该更加努力。
You should help your mother with the housework. 你应该帮你母亲做家务。
Crime should be punished. 犯罪应受惩罚。
Should I wear a coat?我要穿大衣吗?
表示“可能,该(=will probably) ”
He should arrive soon他可能很快就到了。
The train should have already left. 火车大概已经走了。
表示“万一”
If it should rain tomorrow, don’t expect me. 万一明天下雨,就不要等我了。
表示“竟然”
It’s strange that he should be late. 真奇怪,他竟会迟到。
表示粗暴地拒绝一项建议、要求或指示
—What time does the film start? 电影什么时候开始?
—How should I know? 我怎么知道?
—Ann’s very unhappy. 安非常不高兴。
—Why should I care? 这管我什么事?
—Could your wife help us in the office tomorrow? 你妻子明天能到办公室来帮帮我们吗?
—Why should she? She doesn’t work for you. 她为什么就该去? 她又不是为你们工作的。
should加完成式:should have done表示“本应该做某事,但事实上却没有做”;shouldn’t have done表示“本不该做某事,但事实上却做了”。如:
You should have got up earlier. 你本应该早点起的。
You shouldn’t have told him about it. 你本不该把这件事告诉他的。
should与ought to的比较
(1) 除表示“万一”“竟然”等只能用should外,表示“应该,应当”“可能”等,两者可互换,只是ought to的语气稍重。如:
You ought to/should work harder than that. 你应当更努力地工作
She ought to/should finish it by next week. 下星期她可能完成了。
You ought to/should have told him about it earlier. 你本应该早点把这件事告诉他的。
You oughtn’t to/shouldn’t have wasted time like that. 你本不该像那样浪费时间的。
(2) should 强调主观看法,而 ought to 强调客观要求。如:
We ought to go and see my mother in hospital tomorrow, but I don’t think we will. 我们按理应当在明天去看看住院的母亲的,但我主认为我们不会去。
(3) 在公告、须知或条例中,出于礼貌,常用should。如:
You shouldn’t run alongside the swimming pool. 不准在游泳池边奔跑。
(4) 在虚拟语气中只能用should。如:
He suggested that I should go there. 他建议我去那里。
(5) 注意ought to的否定式与疑问式。如:
You ought not to do it. 你不应该做此事。
—Ought he to start now? 他现在该动身了吗?
—Yes, he ought (to) . 是的,该动身了。
They ought to go now, oughtn’t they?他们现在该走了,对吗?