“should be" or "would be"?

Question

“should be" or "would be"?A: How I wish I had worked harder when I was in that company.B: If you had, you ____ a department manager now.

Anonymous · Accepted Answer

Answer: 'would be'

CalifJim · Answer

'would be' makes more sense to me.

CJ

Wangqh2696122 · Answer

According to the grammar book, in subjunctive mood, we use such a structure:

main clause: had done.....past time

subordinate clause: would/should do....present time

But I don't when to use "would" and when to use "should". Can you tell me about it?

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Based on your text Wangqh,

<<<A: How I wish I had worked harder when I was in that company.>>> This is a counter-factual sentence, not a textbook 3rd conditional by rule, so B's response could have been one of the following, and still considered a natural response:

" If you did, you would be / would have been/ could be/ could have been a department manager now".

Wangqh2696122 · Answer

Can you figure out why "should" doesn't serve here? Thanks.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

From a semantic point of view, I didn't work hard. If I did, I woud be the boss. "would" shows a likely possibility.

If we used "should", the tone then becomes one of high expectation rather than a likely possibility. However, it is not so much a matter of grammar, but an approach toward semantics. That's the reason I didn't include "should" in the answers.

Wangqh2696122 · Answer

According to my understanding, it seems that "should" also can indicate "a likely possibility", just as "would" does. The following is from Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary (2nd edition published 2005):

should ²

should (PROBABLE) strong /??d/,/ weak /??d/

modal verb
used to show when something is likely or expected:
My dry cleaning should be ready this afternoon.

I interpret "should" in the above example as "would", both of which indicates "a likely possibility". As a non-native speaker, I can hardly perceive these subtleties. Please elaborate thier differences and similarities.

Dimsumexpress · Answer

My dry cleaning should be ready this afternoon.

Or, I don't have a meeting this the afternoon, and I should be back by 5 to pick you up.

Yes, in this context, "should" expressed calculated expectation based on what one knows as facts..

But in the original question, the contexts expressed counter factual condition which is an entirely different context.

Consider this: You should loan me the money becasue I was the one who got you the job.

In this contexts, "should" seems to pass beyond the rim of possibility, it's more of a demand.

Here is another usage of "should": You should go to bed; you have an early flight to catch. This "should" is obligatory.

I know my explanations will never be as clear and as good as those who make a living writing them.

http://www.bing.com/Dictionary/search?q=define+should&FORM=DTPDIA

DICTIONARY

should

Definition

should

CORE MEANING: modal verb indicating that something is the right thing for somebody to do
You should get more exercise.

I should have told her I was leaving.

The report recommended that children should be tested regularly.

modal v

1.

expressing desirability: expresses desirability or rightness
"You should work less."

2.

expressing likelihood or probability: to be scheduled or expected to be or do something
"I should be back by 12."

"The scissors should be in the second drawer down."

"They should have arrived at Grandma's by now."

3.

expressing conditions or consequences: used to express the conditionality of an occurrence and suggest it is not a given, or to indicate the consequence of something that might happen ( used in conditional clauses )
"If anything should happen to my car, I'd be heartbroken."

"Should you have any questions, our staff will be available to help."

4.

would: used to mean the same thing as the verb would ( used with "I" or "we" )
"If we spent that much every month, we should soon run out of money."

"I should love to meet her."

5.

reporting past viewpoint about future: used when reporting something such as somebody's words or thoughts from a past perspective about a future event
"It was intended that the library should be for the use of everyone."

"He was eager that I should meet his publisher friend."

6.

used to soften harsh words: used to soften a blunt statement or make one more polite
"I should hope you're sorry now."

I should used to advise somebody to do something
I should take him up on his offer, if I were you.

Word Usage

should or would?The same general pattern is true here as for shall and will. As an auxiliary verb, would is more usual than should when stating a condition or proposition and is the only choice when asking a question (They would like to come.I would think so.Would you like to go to the movies?). Should has the special role of denoting obligation, validity, or likelihood (I should stay until they arrive.Should you be lifting that?That should be our visitors now.) and must be used in inverted constructions expressing a condition: Should it rain, the party will be held indoors.Would is required when referring to habitual past action: On Wednesdays I would go to the library. In conversational English, the contracted forms I'd, you'd, etc., are regularly used instead of the full forms in making simple statements (They'd like to come), but these cannot be used in place of should in its senses of obligation or likelihood.

Wangqh2696122 · Answer

Hi,

In Definition 4, I feel it is quite similar to the sentence in question:

"If we spent that much every month, we should soon run out of money."

I think it can also be expressed:

"If we spent that much every month, we would soon run out of money."

Dimsumexpress · Answer

Hi ****,

The reason I gave you the link is to show you the many derivatives of "should" and application which suits the event you try to describe. You are correct that explanation line 4 suggested "should" indeed shares the meaning with "would" in some contexts.

However, one must be aware that the core meaning may or may not be the same. For example: I would go to the party if you go with me. If I substitude "would" with "should" and perhaps "could" or "might", each is a valid modal to use, but the meaning is not the one you have intended.
<<<<< I think it can also be expressed>>>>

<<If we spent that much money every month, we should soon run out of money.>>" This is a mixed conditional. It sounds acceptable but it looks off to me grammar wise. I think it can also be expressed:

<<"If we spent that much every month, we would soon run out of money.">>> -This one is a text book conditional 2. It is the correct form.

For your sentences, please allow me to make a little change so that they can show their natural tone.

.

"If your wife spends a $1000 on clothes and shoes every month, you should divorce her" - Here, "should" serves as a recommendation, or suggestion. Real present condition

"If my wife spent $1000 a month on clothes and shoes, I would divorce her." "Would", here means if that happens, it is your intent to do so. It is a type 2 conditional.

I have to agree, modal usage, subjunctives and conditionals are a big pile of grammatical mess.

“should be" or "would be"?

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions