Should In Future Tense: 7 Facts You Should Know

The modal verb ‘should’ can be used to give recommendation, suggestion or advice which the listener is going to focus in future. Let us explore it.

The single word ‘should’ does not refer any future tense by itself. Other words of a particular sentence help the word ‘should’ to refer any probability which is going to happen in future.

Can the word “should” be used in future tense?

The word ‘should’ can be used to frame sentences in ‘Future Tense’ but there must a main verb to support the modal verb ‘Should’. Let us look at how it should be done.

Both “positive future statement” and “negative future statement” can be framed with the word “should”. We must consider the fact that use of the word ‘will’ may be omitted in a sentence if we are using ‘should’ in the same sentence.

Example – What should you do to complete the assignment on time?

Explanation –

The word ‘should’ is used in future tense because the word ‘should’ is suggesting some ideal activity which the addressed person is going to perform in future.

When the word “should” is used in future tense?

We can use the word ‘should’ to frame sentences in future tense to serve some particular uses. Let us look at those uses.

• We can use the word ‘should’ to give ‘Suggestion’.
• We can use the word ‘should’ to give Recommendation’.
• We can use the word ‘should’ to show any possible ‘Future Incident’.
• We can use the word ‘should’ to do ‘Enquiry’.
• We can use the word ‘should’ to show ‘Possibility’.
• We can use the word ‘should’ to give an ‘Advice’.

Example – Sandip should follow instructions of his teachers to achieve the aim which he always aimed at.

Explanation –

The word ‘should’ is used in future tense because the word ‘should’ is recommending ‘suggestion’ which Sandip must follow in future to achieve his aim. The modal verb “should” in this sentence exists along with the main verb “follow”.

How the word “should” is used in future tense?

The modal verb ‘should’ along with some accompanying words in a particular sentence help to create it a ‘Future Tense’. Let us look at uses of the word ‘should’ to frame sentences.

Both ‘positive statement” and “negative statement” in “Future Tense” can be framed with the modal verb “Should” with addition of one single word and that word is ‘not’. We can easily change a positive future sentence with ‘should’ to a negative future sentence by addition of the word ‘not’.

Use of “Should” to frame “Positive Future Tense” –

You should go home now as it is raining since morning and all the transportation is going to stop.

 Explanation – Here, the word ‘should’ is in use to frame a “Positive Statement”. The word ‘should’ is suggesting “An Ideal Activity” which the addressed person has been suggested by the speaker to perform in future.

Use of “Should” to frame “Negative Future Tense” –

You should not stay here for long as it is raining heavily since morning and all the transportation is going to stop.

Explanation – Here, the word ‘should’ is in use to frame a “Negative Statement”. The word ‘should’ is suggesting “An Ideal Activity” which the addressed person should perform in future.

Why the word “should” is used in future tense?

The word ‘should’ is used in future tense because we can use the word ‘should’ along with main verb to predict probability of any future event or activity.

The word ‘should’ is mainly used in future tense to mark some probable activity or event which is going to happen in future. Now, we can check one example and explanation to understand use of the word ‘should’.

Example – Pijush should not drop down from his college as his friend will manage a private job for him.

Explanation –

The word ‘should’ is used in future tense because the word ‘should’ is recommending ‘an ideal activity’ which Pijush must follow. The modal verb “should” in this sentence exists along with the main verb “drop down”.

Use of “shall” word in future tense –

The word ‘shall’ can not be used with each and every types of pronoun. Let us go through use of ‘shall’ in future tense.

The word “shall” can be used in future tense to refer only two pronouns. Those two pronouns are

1. First Person Singular Number (I)
2. Third Person Singular Number (We)

The word “shall” is a “Modal Verb”. It must be used along with a main verb.

Example 1 – I shall go there on time to give the lunch box to my father.

Explanation – Here, the modal verb “shall” is in use along with the main verb “go” to refer future tense.

Example 2 – We shall do party after tomorrow’s dance performance.

Explanation – Here, the modal verb “shall” is in use along with the main verb “do” to refer future tense.

Examples of should used in future tense –

Let us go through sentences framed with the word ‘should’ and related explanations.

When the word “should” can not be used in future tense and why?

The word should can not be used to frame a future sentence without support of any main verb. Let us look at how the word ‘should’ can not be used in future tense.

The word “should” can not be used to frame sentences in future tense if it is not supported by any main verb. We must note another point that the word “will” must not be used in the same future clause in which the word “should” is in use.

Example – You should have coffee and cookies instead of cold drink in this cold weather.

Explanation –

The word ‘should’ is used in future tense because the word ‘should’ is recommending ‘An Option’. The modal verb “should” in this sentence exists along with the main verb “have”. We must note that there is no existence of the word “will” in this sentence.

Conclusion –

Use of the word ‘should’ in future tense and in past tense are not same as there are some particular rules and regulations in both types of uses.