Should: The Grammar Gameshow episode 26. Can you answer all the questions?

Hello, and welcome to today’s Grammar Gameshow!

I’m your host, Will!

Run, run as fast as you can,

you can’t catch me,

I’m the Grammar Gameshow man!

And of course let’s not forget Leslie,

our all-knowing voice in the sky.

Hello, everyone!

Tonight, we’re going to ask you three questions about…

Should!

That handy modal so often used for advice!

OK! Now, let’s meet our contestants!

Hello, all. My name’s Bill.

And contestant number two?

Hello Will!

And hello, everyone at home.

It’s so great to be here tonight!

I’m your contestant Sal!

Here for your viewing pleasure on the one, the only,

the spectacular,

Grammar Gameshow!

Well, goodness, Sal. That was quite an intro.

Isn’t he fantastic? Let’s give him a hand.

Thanks Will.

I used to host a game show myself

for many years.

And what great times they were.

An old hand, eh?

Great!

OK. Let’s get going and don’t forget,

you can play along at home too.

Like many modal verbs,

should has a variety of meanings.

Explain the use of should in these sentences.

Should I get the cheap one or the expensive one?

Well, that’s should to

ask for advice or make a suggestion.

Correct!

She’s out but she shouldn’t be much longer.

That’s should for something probable or expected.

Correct!

Everyone should wear a seat belt when driving.

Well, that’s should for advice again.

Incorrect!

Wow. You got that one spectacularly wrong.

Really nose over toes there!

Isn’t he fantastic?

But a good TV host should never tell a guest

they’ve got something wrong without softening it first.

Just like this.

Bill,

that was a fair guess, but you got it wrong. Bad luck.

But here’s a high-five for trying.

Boom!

Yes. Thank you Sal. I’ll take that one under advisement.

Leslie?

Good job!

Or maybe wrong?

I forget now!

Anyway, should is a modal verb

meaning it doesn’t change for person or time,

and is always followed by a bare infinitive.

It can be used to offer advice and make suggestions,

talk about probabilities based on what is expected

or logical

and refer to obligations -

such as, everyone should wear a seat belt when driving –

though it’s not as strong as must.

Well done. Two points each.

Now it’s time to..

Hold up a sec!

What a champion!

What poise! What precision!

But here’s a quick note from someone who’s

walked the walk before.

Why not try it like this.

Great play everyone, amazing performance!

Two points each!

OK Sal.

Nice idea.

I’ll bear that one in mind.

Let’s move on to round two.

Should is a modal verb and so has no past form.

How, then, can we use should in the past?

Don’t we use

should + have + a past participle verb?

Correct!

Well done, Bill. And for a bonus point,

what functional use does it have?

It’s used to talk about

past actions that either were or weren’t a good idea.

Correct!

He got the bonus point!

Well done Bill!

You’re a star!

Hit it!

You shouldn’t have done that!

Sal,

out of respect for a peer, I am going to let that one slide.

But that is your last warning.

Leslie?

Well done, Bill!

We can combine should with have and a past participle

to talk about actions that either weren’t a good idea

or would have been, but didn’t happen.

This is useful for criticising someone.

For example, you shouldn’t have done that!

Or for talking about regrets. For example,

I should have listened to my mother more.

Well done, Bill.

You get the bonus point.

Hit it!

Oh f...

Well, that one’s ruined now!

On to our last round.

The verb phrase had better is similar to should.

But there are some important differences.

Look at these sentences

and correct the ones which are wrong.

Both are followed by a bare infinitive.

Both can be used to give advice.

Both are the same degree of intensity.

Neither includes a sense of consequence.

C) is wrong.

Had better is more immediate and urgent than should.

Correct!

I think D is also incorrect.

Doesn’t had better include a sense of worry or danger

of negative consequence if the advice is not followed?

Correct!

Tell them Leslie.

Leslie, my best buddy and pal!

My best buddy and pal.

Wow folks!

What a guy!

Should and had better have similar meanings.

Both are followed by a bare infinitive,

and both can be used to give advice.

However,

had better is a little more immediate and intense.

When we use had better, there is an, often unspoken,

sense of a negative consequence

if the advice is not followed.

This also makes had better useful

when delivering threats.

For example, Sal,

you had better stop poking that bear with that stick.

Isn’t he great folks?

Let’s hear it for your favourite voice in the sky…

it’s Leslie!

Alright, that’s the conjunction that broke the syntax.

Bill you win.

The prize is a...

a boat or something.

And Sal?

Maybe you should try having a catchphrase.

Something like…

waaah!

Nope!

That’s a little too long-winded for me!

Release the unsatisfied audience.

And Leslie? Do the...

goodbye bit.

Sawadee ka, Leslie!

There, see you next time!