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

SHOULD AND WOULD

393

Should

occurs as a more formal alternative to would with first person subjects in

hypothetical clauses, in future-in-the-past clauses and in clauses where would can

occur as a softener or hedge:

[referring to the pleasures of living in a country cottage, despite the

disadvantages]

I had been there long enough to see the disadvantages, but even if they had

been doubled or trebled, I 

should still have been of the same opinion. 

She was aware of our feelings for each other and she guessed we 

should like to

be alone. 

Things change, especially in your field, I 

should imagine.

MUST

394

Must

has a number of meanings. It is used for different strengths of obligation,

from polite invitations to laws. It is also frequently used to express deduction.

654 | Modality

Cambridge Grammar of English

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Deduction

The use of must to express a deduction is particularly common, especially to

express reactions in spoken contexts:

I’m twenty-eight, so she 

must be twenty-seven.

A: There was a power-cut on the London Underground. 

B: That must have been terrible. Er, I read about that. Yeah.