Forms
Baseshould
Negativeshould not
Contractedshouldn't
Past form(historical: should)
Past negativeshould not have
Past contractedshouldn't have
Question patternShould I …?
Meanings & usage
- Advice: “You should see a doctor.” Recommendation
- Expectation: “The train should arrive at 5.” Based on schedule or logic
- Obligation (soft): “Staff should wash hands.” Expected behaviour, not forced
- Past regret: “I should have called earlier.” Missed action
- Tentative opinion: “I should think so.” Softening a claim
Tense patterns
How this modal combines with a base verb across time references. The modal itself doesn’t conjugate; the time meaning comes from what you attach.
Reference
Affirmative
Negative
Question
Present/future
I should work
I shouldn't work
Should I work?
Perfect (regret)
I should have worked
I shouldn't have worked
Should I have worked?
Continuous
I should be working
I shouldn't be working
Should I be working?
Perfect continuous
I should have been working
I shouldn't have been working
Should I have been working?
Common mistakes
Should have + past participle expresses regret, not a question of fact: "I should have studied more" = I didn't, and I wish I had. Don't confuse with "I should study more" (present advice).