There are many different helper words in the English language. These are words that in themselves do not have a special lexical meaning, but complement the meaning of the rest of the sentence in which they are used. Knowing these auxiliary words and their differences from each other is very important for an accurate understanding of the meaning of what is said or read, as well as for a clearer presentation of your own thoughts.
The problem is that often English words for Russian-speaking people seem similar, which often causes confusion. For example, the question often arises: what is the meaning of the verbs shall and should and the difference between them? Let's take a look at the answer to this question one by one.
Modal verbs in English
Modal verbs play an important role in English speech. However, sometimes it is difficult to understand their meaning, and even more so to translate into Russian. Not surprisingly, modal verbs havequite a specific purpose. The fact is that they do not designate any action by themselves, but only express the speaker's attitude to this action, bring emotional or ethical coloring. Modal verbs in affirmative sentences are used before the main semantic verb, which, in turn, is attached without the particle to.
The basic modal verbs are:
Can/could - I can, you can. I can swim (I can swim)
Must - must. You must do your homework! (You have to do your homework!)
May/might - I can, you can, the probability value. May I come in? (Can I come in?)
Have to - must, have to (forcing). I have to go to school (I have to (I have to) go to school)
Should - should. You should apologize
Sometimes people confuse should and may. The difference between the two is that should conveys primarily the meaning of a compulsion or burdensome duty, while may expresses a possibility, probability, uncertainty about the future, or is used to make a polite request.
What is the difference between the verbs shall and should? The difference between them will be discussed a little further.
Shall - does not have a specific translation, means an order or a threat. He shall be punished! (He will be punished!)
The verb shall - what does it mean
The verb shall is very similar in sound to the verb should, moreover, in both cases there is a connotation of coercion, which makes it confusing when using shall and should. However, there is a difference between these verbs.
After all, what meaning does the verb shall give to the statement?
As a rule, shall has no definite translation into Russian, and its meaning is conveyed intonation. So, as a modal verb, it is used in five basic meanings:
1. Promise.
- We shall go to the beach on the weekend.
- We'll go to the beach this weekend (I promise).
2. Intention.
- I shall have finished this project by next month.
- I'm (going to) finish this project by next month.
3. Threat or warning.
- She shall regret doing that!
- She will regret what she did.
4. Strict order.
- You shall go to bed!
- Go to bed!
5. Question about next steps, suggestion.
- Shall we go home?
- Should we go home?
However, the verb shall is not only a modal verb, it can also be used as an auxiliary verb in the future tense. This situation, as well as the difference between shall and will, will be covered in a moment.
The verb should – when used
Unlike the verb shall, should has a more specific meaning. It passes the value of an action that is optional but worth doing. It is usually translated as “should.”
- I should be at home by 10 p.m.
- I shouldbe home by 10 pm.
As a rule, the verb should is used when talking about moral duty, recommendations or advice.
If the verb should is used in conjunction with the Perfect tense, the statement takes on a tone of regret
- Sorry, I really should have written sooner.
- Sorry, I really should have texted earlier.
How should should differ from must?
Modal verbs generally convey very subtle shades of meaning, so it's pretty easy to confuse them. So, the difference between should and must may not always be obvious.
In fact, the main difference is that these verbs express different degrees of coercion. More precisely, different incentives or reasons to perform certain actions.
The verb must conveys the meaning of an action that someone must definitely do according to their moral inner convictions or laws, rules that cannot be broken. In short, must expresses strictness, clarity, confidence.
- You must respect the law of our state.
- You must abide by the laws of our state.
The verb should, on the contrary, means optional, but extremely desirable to do something. It translates as "should". As a rule, this action should be performed due to some external circumstances or reasons, and not from an internal conviction.
- I should write an essay for the competition.
- I should write an essay for the competition.
How to make negative sentences with modal verbs
When making affirmative sentences, there are no special problems - the modal verb is simply inserted into the sentence before the semantic verb, always without the to particle. But how do you make negative sentences?
Negative sentences are formed by adding the particle not to the modal verb.
- I can't swim.
- I can't swim.
In colloquial speech or when writing informal papers, it is possible to use a short form formed with an apostrophe.
I can't swim
How to make interrogative sentences with modal verbs
When compiling interrogative sentences, the general rule of English grammar is used - the modal verb acts as an auxiliary word.
When composing general questions, the modal verb comes first.
- Can you swim?
- Can you swim?
- Yes, I can/ No, I can’t.
- Yes, I can/ No, I can't.
When compiling special questions, the formula is used:
Special word + modal verb + subject + semantic verb + objects ?
- When shall we go home?
- When are we going home?
Rules for using the verb shall. Future tense
As mentioned earlier, shall is not only a modal verb. Similarly, it can be used asauxiliary in the preparation of proposals in the future tense. But everyone knows that in the days of the Future group, the auxiliary word will is used. Is there a difference between will and shall?
The verb shall is used with first person singular and plural pronouns. Simply put, with the words I and we.
In all other cases, will is used.
- I shall go to the university.
- I will go to university.
- BUT: She will go to the university.
- She will go to university.
It is worth noting that nowadays in English the difference between shall and will is almost erased. The fact is that over time, the verb shall is used in oral and written speech less and less, and now it is almost excluded from the vocabulary of a modern English-speaking person. This applies to both modal and auxiliary verbs. Of course, it is worth knowing the difference between shall and will, despite the fact that nowadays shall can be found rather in fiction.
When the future tense is used
Obviously, in general, the future tense is used when we talk about something that is going to happen, or we hope or expect it to happen. There are four different variants of the future tense in English. Let's take a look at each one.
Future Simple
Formula: will + verb
Used when we talk about assumptions or predictions, about inaccurate plans for the future.
I hopethe weather will be good tomorrow.
I hope the weather will be nice tomorrow.
Another meaning is the decision that was made at the moment of the conversation, momentarily.
- I forget my purse at home.
- I will lend you some money.
- I forgot my wallet at home.
- I'll lend you some money.
Future Continious
Formula: will + to be + verb (-ing)
Used when talking about a continuous action at a certain point in time.
I will be watching TV set at 6 p.m. tomorrow.
I'll be watching TV tomorrow at 6pm.
Important: Future Continious is never used with static verbs. Static verbs are verbs that express feelings, states, or actions that cannot have a duration (for example, begin/end).
Future Perfect
An action that will end at a certain point in the future.
Formula: will + have/has + third form verb
I will have done my homework by 3 a.m.
I will have finished my homework by 3 am.
Future Perfect Continious
An action that began before the moment of the conversation and will end at a certain point in the future.
Formula: will + have/has been doing + verb (-ing)
I will have been doing my homework for 6 hours by 3 a.m.
By 3 o'clock in the morning it will be 6 o'clock as I do my homework.
Subjunctive
There is another group of words that sound similar: would, could and should. The difference between them lies in the meaning.
The verbs would and could are used in the subjunctive mood when talking about something impossible (constructs like "if only…").
- I would read more books if I had more leisure time.
- I would read more books if I had more free time.
In Russian, the verb could is translated as “could”.
- I could write this essay yesterday evening.
- I could have written this essay last night
We hope this article has helped you understand the main differences between the verbs shall and should, the difference between them, as well as other modal verbs.
