Should
跟shall一樣,should強調作者或說話者對句子所描述的事件的想法、偏好、判斷與情緒,也因此should在中文語意上多翻譯成『應該』、『居然』或『萬一』。
should語意為應該的句型
當should的語意是應該,否定句為不應該時,主要要表達的語意有:
- 說話者或作者表達個人對某人、事、物的看法與喜惡(應該)
- should的疑問句表示說話者對某件事有不確定感
- 給予聽者或讀者推薦、建議或勸告(應該)
- 說話者或作者表示某件事是主詞的義務(應該)
- 說話者表達某件事很可能在現在或未來發生(應該)
- 對發生過的事情,說話者表達對自己或對主詞當作而沒做、或不當作卻做了某事的懊悔或批評- 假設語氣過去完成式(應該)。
*現在結果非事實 – If S V(過去式), S should V.或If S V(過去式), S should have Vpp.
*過去結果非事實 – If S had Vpp, S should have Vpp.
(想要進一步了解假設語氣,請看『透過三張圖表,完全理解假設語氣』) - 主要子句的主詞給予名詞子句的主詞勸告、要求、命令或建議
*句型ㄧ:S suggest(表規勸、建議或命令等動詞) that S should V原型.
*句型二:It is necessary(表示重要、必須等形容詞) for 人 to V原型.
當should的意思為應該,使用目的是規勸或建議,則should也可以用ought to來替換,但是,ought to比較正式。
- She should tell her mother how she feels.(說話者表達自己的看法)
- The government should take action to prevent the spread of the disease.(說話者表達自己的看法)
- Should we invite Mary to our party?(說話者不確定要不要邀請Mary:可能和Mary不是那麼熟,也有可能覺得Mary不會來,都有可能)
- Are you hot? Should I turn on the air conditioner?(說話者不確定要開冷氣嗎?)
- He shouldn’t stay up late every night. It’s not good for his health.
(說話者勸告主詞) - You should read Daddy Long Long Legs; it’s an interesting novel by Jean Webster.(說話者推薦主詞做某事)
- The doctor suggested that he should eat less and exercise more.(主要子句的主詞the doctor勸告名詞子句的主詞he應該做某事)
*這一類的動詞有suggest, demand, order, decide, insist - We should not tell a lie.(義務)
- Everybody should respect their parents(義務)
- What are you doing here? You should be studying for the test. (should be Ving這個句型表達 – 說話者認為主詞應該要做著ㄧ件事,但是主詞沒有在做)
- You shouldn’t be playing games. It’s 2 a.m.(說話者覺得很晚了,主詞不應該玩手機或電腦遊戲,但是,主詞還在玩)
- My sister should be here soon.(說話者知道自己的妹妹要來的時間- 事件在未來,發生的可能性很大)
- It’s Wednesday. The library should be open.(事件在現在,可能性很高 – 沒出意外的話)
- It should take you about ten minutes to walk to the park. (說話者估算一個動作很可能需要主詞花費多少時間)
- I shouldn’t have invited him to dinner.(說話者對自己邀請他來晚餐這件事很懊悔 – 應該不要做,但已經做了)
*假設語氣,過去結果非事實,動詞用過去式助動詞+have Vpp - He should have bought the house.(說話者覺得主詞他應該要買那棟房子的,但事實上,他沒買,替他惋惜)
*同上句 - You shouldn’t have.在收到禮物的時候,對送禮物的人說的客套話J(口語)
*同上句 - It is necessary that everybody should drink at least 2 liters of water every day.
*這個句型還可以用important, vital, essential, natural, 這些形容詞,句中should的語意一樣是應該
should語意為萬一的句型
除了可以表達ㄧ件事發生的可能性很大之外,should也可以用來表達,說話者覺得某件事在未來有可能發生,但是機率不那麼高。常見句型:
- 假設語法過去式,在if的子句裡:If S should V, S V.
=Should S V, S V - SV for fear that S should V
=SV in case that S should V
=SV lest that S should V
主詞做…以免萬一…(在這些句型裡,that跟should都可以省略,後面的子句留下原形動詞,但是,本文介紹should用法,就沒有省略了)
- If you should decide to go to Japan with me, please let me know as soon as possible.
萬一你突然決定要跟我去日本,請儘快讓我知道。(說話者心中認為主詞不太可能會跟他去) - Should you decide to go to Japan with me, please let me know as soon as possible. (第一句的倒裝句)
- After 90, she always walks with two sticks for fear (that) she should fall.
九十歲之後,她一定拿著兩根手杖走路,以免萬一跌倒 - Don’t go diving alone lest (that) an accident should happen to you.
不要自己去潛水,免得萬一發生意外 - Bring an umbrella along with you in case (that) it should rain.
隨身帶把傘,以防萬一下雨
should語意為居然的句型
當ㄧ件事的發生出乎自己的意料之外,說話者可以用should表達自己的驚訝或惋惜,此時,should的就有居然的味道。常用句型為:
- It is adj / N that S should V.這個句型表達說話者對現在狀況的驚訝
- It is adj / N that S should have Vpp. 這個句型表達說話者對過去事件的驚訝或惋惜
*這ㄧ類句型還可用形容詞surprising, regrettable, strange, odd, bad; 跟名詞:a pity, a shame
這句型裡,should可以省略,後面的子句留下原形動詞,但是,本文介紹should用法,就沒有省略了。
- It is a pity that she should fail the exam.
好可惜,她考試居然沒過 - It is surprising that the two year old should find his way home.
太令人驚奇了,那個兩歲大的男孩居然自己找回家 - It is regrettable that we should have made such a terrible mistake.太遺憾了,我們居然已經犯了這麼可怕的錯
should的口語用法
我們還可以用6w疑問詞,使用助動詞should來表達某件事怎麼可能或怎麼會發生。除此之外,他也可以用來附和別人的意見。
- Who should write it, but herself?
還會是誰寫的,當然是她自己 - How should I know anything about her?
我怎麼會知道她的任何事? - Why should he object?
他怎麼會反對? - I should think so.
我想是這樣的 - I should like to. 或I should like to go with you.
我很願意(喜歡)…
*雖然現在還有人這樣說,但是比較多人用I would like to …了
對於would的用法有興趣的讀者,可以閱讀『would的用法』這篇文章。如果你有其他文法上的疑惑,可以到我們『英文文法』專頁,看看有沒有文章探討相關文法問題。或者你有其他易混淆的單字上的疑惑,可以到我們『英文單字與片語』專頁,看看有沒有相關文章。