should
gb/ʃˈʊd/ us/ʃˈʊd/
A2
English
~ 100
kellene, illene, köteles, érdemes, várhatóan, valószínűleg, ha esetleg, amennyiben, hogy ... -na/-ne, éppen
VERB
A2
1
Usage pattern:
[subject] should [base verb]
You should wear a coat; it's cold outside.
Kabátot kellene felvenned; hideg van odakint.
Employees should arrive on time.
A munkavállalóknak időben kell megérkezniük.
We should respect other people's opinions.
Drivers should follow the speed limit.
Learner examples
You should eat breakfast.
Reggelit kellene enned.
I should go now.
Most már mennem kellene.
We should help him.
You should drink water every day.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'should' with 'must'; 'must' is stronger and means no choice, while 'should' is advice or mild obligation.
Meaning
Express obligation or duty
Collocations
should be
|should have
|should try
Synonyms
ought to (Slightly more formal or old-fashioned, but similar meaning.)
Antonyms
must not (Indicates prohibition instead of obligation.)
Themes
advice
|rules
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to say that something is the right thing to do.
Used to indicate what is proper, expected, or required.
VERB
A2
2
Usage pattern:
[subject] should [base verb]
You should try the pasta; it's delicious.
Meg kellene kóstolnod a tésztát; nagyon finom.
We should visit the museum while we're here.
Érdemes lenne megnéznünk a múzeumot, amíg itt vagyunk.
He should see a doctor about that cough.
Learner examples
You should read this book.
El kellene olvasnod ezt a könyvet.
She should call her mother.
Fel kellene hívnia az anyját.
We should go to the park.
Meaning
Give advice or recommendation
Collocations
should try
|should consider
|should see
Synonyms
recommend (A direct suggestion, often more formal.)
Antonyms
shouldn't (Gives advice against doing something.)
Themes
advice
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to tell someone what you think is a good idea.
Used to suggest that something is a good idea or the best choice.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
[subject] should [base verb]
The train should arrive in five minutes.
A vonat várhatóan öt perc múlva érkezik.
This medicine should help with your headache.
Ez a gyógyszer valószínűleg segít majd a fejfájásodon.
He should be back by now.
Learner examples
She should be here soon.
Hamarosan itt kellene lennie.
The bus should come soon.
A busznak hamarosan jönnie kellene.
It should be sunny tomorrow.
Meaning
Express probability or expectation
Collocations
should be here
|should work
|should arrive
Synonyms
likely to (More explicit about probability.)
Antonyms
unlikely to (Indicates low probability instead of expectation.)
Themes
predictions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to say you think something will probably happen.
Used to express that something is likely or expected to happen.
VERB
B2
4
ha esetleg
B1
amennyiben
B2
Usage pattern:
If [subject] should [base verb], [result]
If you should see him, tell him I called.
Ha esetleg találkoznál vele, mondd meg neki, hogy kerestem.
Should you need help, let me know.
Ha esetleg segítségre lenne szükséged, szólj.
If anything should go wrong, call me immediately.
Learner examples
If you should meet her, say hello.
Ha esetleg találkoznál vele, köszönj neki.
Should you need money, ask me.
Ha esetleg pénzre lenne szükséged, kérj tőlem.
If it should rain, we will stay inside.
Meaning
Express hypothetical condition or result
Collocations
should happen
|should fail
|should need
Synonyms
were to (Alternative way of expressing hypothetical situations.)
Themes
conditions
|hypotheticals
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used to talk about what would happen if something else happens.
Used in conditional sentences to talk about something that might happen or be true under certain conditions.
VERB
C1
FORMAL
5
éppen
B1
Usage pattern:
'that' clause with 'should' after adjective of emotion/opinion
It's surprising that she should say such a thing.
Meglepő, hogy ilyet mondott.
It's odd that he should forget your name.
Furcsa, hogy elfelejtette a nevedet.
It's strange that they should arrive so early.
Learner examples
It is strange that she should be here.
Furcsa, hogy itt van.
It is odd that he should call now.
Furcsa, hogy éppen most hív.
It is surprising that they should win.
Meaning
Express surprise or emphasis in a clause
Collocations
strange that ... should ...
|odd that ... should ...
Themes
formal language
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Definition
Used in formal English to show surprise in some sentences.
Used in formal contexts in subordinate clauses after expressions like 'it is strange that' to emphasize surprise or unexpectedness.
Grammar
Dictionary form
should
IPA
GB/ʃˈʊd/
US/ʃˈʊd/
Syllables & stress
should (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (should)
Word forms
Verb
- Base: should
- 3rd Person Singular: shoulds
- Present Participle: shoulding
- Past: shoulded
- Past Participle: shoulded
Word family
Forms
shoulds
verb
shoulding
verb
shoulded
verb
Negative and opposite forms
shouldn't
verb A2
Expressions
should have known better
1/ʃˈʊd hˈæv nˈoʊn bˈɛtɚ/
fixed phrase
Regret doing something unwise in past
Used to say someone made a mistake they could have avoided because they had enough experience or information.
Examples
- I shouldn't have trusted him; I should have known better.
- She got sunburned again — she should have known better.
should you wish to...
1/ʃˈʊd jˈu wˈɪʃ tə |/
fixed phrase
formal
Polite conditional offer or option
A formal way to say 'if you want to'.
Examples
- Should you wish to cancel your booking, please contact us within 24 hours.
- Should you wish to discuss this further, my office is open all week.
shouldn't have done [something]
1/ʃˈʊdənt hˈæv dˈʌn sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
Say past action was wrong/unwise
Used to say it was a bad idea to do something in the past.
Examples
- I shouldn't have said that to her.
- You shouldn't have eaten so much cake.