Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[bakum123]

i'd be very appreciated if let me know the difference of meaning and usage between "shall be" and "should be" in a sentence.

[Mary W. Ng]

One use of shall is to express requirements, specifications, and regulations in the third person.
1. Passengers shall be counted prior to departure. (requirements.)
2. The building shall be designed to support the following loads ... (specifications)
3. An owner or keeper of any animal shall be held strictly liable for any damages ... (regulations)

Shall is also used with the first person to express a pure future.
1. I shall be there.
2. We shall be happy.

One use of should is to express one's duty or obligation. Should is used with all three persons (first, second, and third).
1. We should be prompt. (first person)
2. You should be ashamed of yourselves. (second person)
3. Passengers should be belted. (third person)

Should is also used to express probabiltiy.
1. Your car should be ready this afternoon.
2. They should be here by now.

_________________
Mary W. Ng
Helping students learn grammar
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