Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[jasonlulu_2000]

---How�s your tour around the North Lake? Is it beautiful?
---It ________ be, but it is now heavily polluted.
A. will B. would C. should D. must

I am in a dilemma between B and C.

Could any native help me?

thanks

Jason

[cgage2]

This is a good question. Even a native English speaker could possibly get confused.
"would " is conditional. In other words, it would be beautiful (if it was clean). This is a simple observation.
According to the dictionary, should refers to duty or necessity.
"It should be" sounds more like an environmental criticism or judgement.
So it seems that it depends on the context. Either answer is correct.

Also be aware that in British English, the word "should" is used somewhat differently. Example:"Would you like some Earl Grey tea?"
"I should love some". (An American would never say that)

One hundred years ago, an American in New York could have said, "I would that you would shut up!" (here, the first "would" means want, the second "would" means will)
No one says that anymore but it gives you an example of the complexities.

I spend many days each year teaching the difference between should/would/could to my Mexican students. I suggest that the English language learners on this site spend some extra time on it.

[jasonlulu_2000]

thanks for your wonderful reply.