Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Declaratives with should

414d

Declaratives with should occur in warnings, advice and suggestions:

A: You know 

you should never open one of these like that 

don’t you?

B: Mm. 

A: Cos someone lost their eye.

B: Mm. 

A: It never ever occurred to me till I saw that programme about the number of

people who’ve lost eyes and things.

690 | Speech acts

Cambridge Grammar of English

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[speaker A is advising an out-of-work artist (B) on the best place to look for

jobs]

A: But London, I think 

you should try London

. 

B: Mm. I think you’re probably right. 

A: London’s definitely the place. 

B: I think though they would understand what I’m trying to do much more.

A: Mm. 

[speakers are disturbed by a beeping noise]

A: It’s the smoke alarm that’s beeping. 

We should put a new battery in

.

B: Yeah.

[speakers are discussing a woman who has problems with her ex-partner, who

keeps returning to her home despite having been told never to come back]

A: Maybe 

she should double lock the doors

. 

B: Yeah.