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ESL forum > Grammar and Linguistics > should/might    

should/might



windflora
Turkey

should/might
 
Hi all,
Can we use might instead of should when we say;
 
"Phil recommended us that we (should) arrive on time."

7 Dec 2011      





ascincoquinas
Portugal

Hi there!
According to Longman online dictionary:
should negative short form shouldn �t
1right thing
a) used to say what is the right or sensible thing to do:
He shouldn �t be so selfish.
Children shouldn �t be allowed to play in the street.
�I don �t care what people think. � �Well, you should. �
Why shouldn �t I smoke if I want to?
b) used to say what would have been right or sensible, but was not done:
They should have called the police.
2advice used to give or ask for advice:
What should I do? Should I trust him?
You should read his new book.
 I should stay in bed if I were you.
3expected thing
a) used to say that you expect something to happen or be true:
It should be a nice day tomorrow.
Try phoning Robert - he should be home by now.
Australia should win this match.
�Artistic people can be very difficult sometimes. � �Well, you should know - you married one. �
b) used to say what was expected, but did not happen:
It was an easy test and he should have passed, but he didn �t.
4correct thing used to say what is the correct amount, the correct way of doing something etc:
Every sentence should start with a capital letter.
What do you mean, there are only ten tickets? There should be twelve.
White wine, not red, should be served with fish.
5orders formal used in official orders and instructions:
Passengers should proceed to Gate 12.
6after �that � British English used in a clause  beginning with �that � after particular adjectives and verbs:
It �s strange that you should say that.
It is essential that he should have a fair trial.
The residents demanded that there should be an official inquiry.
7possibility used to talk about something that may possibly happen or be true:
Naturally, he was nervous in case anything should go wrong.
What if I should fall sick and not be able to work?
should somebody/something do something
Should you need any help (=if you need any help), you can always phone me at the office.
8imagined situations formal especially British English used after �I � or �we � to say what you would do if something happened or was true:
If anyone treated me like that, I should complain to the manager.
I should be surprised if many people voted for him.
9requesting/offering formal especially British English used to politely ask for something, offer to do something, or say that you want to do something:
I should be grateful if you could provide me with some information.
�What can I get you? � �I should like a long cool drink. �
We should be delighted to help in any way we can.
I should like to thank you all for coming here tonight.
10past intentions/expectations used as the past tense of �shall � after �I � or �we � to say what you intended or expected to do:
We knew that we should be leaving the next day.
11  what should I see but something/who should appear but somebody etc used to show that you were surprised when you saw a particular thing, when a particular person appeared etc:
Just at that moment, who should walk in but old Jim himself.
12  you should have seen/heard something spoken used to emphasize how funny, strange, beautiful etc something was that you saw or heard:
You should have seen the look on her face when I told her I �d won first prize.
13  how/why should...? used to express surprise that something has happened or that someone has asked you a particular question:
Why should anyone want to marry Tony?
Don �t ask me. How should I know?
14  I should think/imagine/hope spoken
a) used to say that you think or hope something is true, when you are not certain:
I shouldn �t think they �ve gone far.
�I suppose there �ll be a lot of complaints? � �I should imagine so. �
b) used to emphasize that you are not surprised by what someone has told you because you have moral reasons to expect it:
�She doesn �t like to hear me swearing. � �I should think not. �
�He did apologize. � �I should hope so, after the way he behaved. �
 
might negative short form mightn �t
1possibility
a) if something might happen or might be true, there is a possibility that it may happen or may be true, but you are not at all certain:
I might be a few minutes late.
She might not want to come with us.
He might have missed the train.
This might well be her last public performance (=it is fairly likely).
One of the guards might easily panic and shoot someone (=it is likely).
b) used as the past tense of �may � when reporting that someone talked or thought about the possibility of something:
He might be able to help you.
I thought they might have gone home.
She was worried that we might get hurt.
c) used to say that something was a possibility in the past but did not actually happen:
It was terrifying. We might have been killed.
2suggesting used to suggest politely what someone should do:
If you need more information, you might try the Internet.
I thought we might go to the new Chinese restaurant on the High Street.
It might be a good idea to put those plants in the shade.
We �re going to a concert. You might like to come with us.
3asking permission
a) spoken especially British English used to politely ask for permission to do something:
Might I borrow your pen?
I wonder if I might speak to your son.
b) used when reporting that someone asked for permission to do something:
He asked if he might come in and look around.
4somebody should have done something used when you are annoyed because someone has not done something that you think they should do:
You might at least say thank you.
They might have cleaned up before they left.
5past purpose used after �so that � or �in order that � to say that someone did something in order to make something else happen or be possible:
I asked for names and addresses so that I might pass on details to the police.
6  might I say/ask/add etc spoken especially British English used to politely give more information, ask a question, interrupt etc:
Might I ask how old you are?
Might I just say how lovely it is to see everyone here today.
7  I might say/add spoken used to emphasize what you are saying:
I was, I might say, not surprised.
8  I might have known/guessed etc spoken used to say that you are not surprised at a situation:
I might have known it was you!
I might have guessed I �d get no sympathy from my family.
9  might (just) as well
a) used to suggest that someone should do something, because there is no good reason to do anything else:
I suppose we might as well go home.
b) used to say that the effect of an action or situation is the same as if it was another one:
They might as well have a badge on them saying �Steal me �.
He might as well have been a million miles away.
 
Hope this helps!

7 Dec 2011     



cagreis
Portugal

In this particular sentence you have to use "should" since someone is recommending something (you �re giving a piece of advice). But it �s possible to say "We might arrive on time" to express a possibility (we are not certain of something).
Hope this helps
Carlos

7 Dec 2011     



yanogator
United States

Also, it should be "Phil recommended to us...".
 
or just "Phil recommended that we should arrive on time."
 
or "Phil recommended that we arrive on time".
 
All three are correct. 
Bruce

7 Dec 2011     



douglas
United States

You could actually use :
 
"Phil recommended that we might {want to} arrive on time."
 
It �s not as common and I wouldn �t recommend it, but it is a possibility.
 
Douglas

8 Dec 2011     



yanogator
United States

Well, Douglas, here �s a rare occasion when we actually disagree. I could see your sentence with "Phil suggested...", but not with "recommended" and "might" together.
Bruce

8 Dec 2011     



windflora
Turkey

Thank you all.

8 Dec 2011