Should, Would, and Could are auxiliary verbs and are the past form of Shall, Will, and Can. In some instances, they are also used in different ways.
Take a look at the uses of Should, Would, and Could.
Uses of Should
- You can use Should when talking about probability.
He should be on his way here.
I don’t have a lot to do at work. I should finish earlier.
Are you going with us to the music festival? It should be fun.
- Moreover, you use Should when asking questions.
Should I take a vacation?
Shouldn’t he be practicing his speech?
Should we call 911?
- You can use Should when showing obligations.
Children should obey their parents.
You should study harder.
He shouldn’t be driving when he’s had some drinks.
- Should is also used when giving recommendations or advice.
You should use this color. It’s more vibrant.
They should take 88th Ave. It’s the quickest way to get to town.
She should consider all her options first.
- Lastly, you can use Should when expressing opinions.
I think we should all read the news everyday.
Children shouldn’t spend so much time using gadgets.
They shouldn’t have come here anyway.
Uses of Would
- Like Should, you can use Would when asking questions.
Would you like red or white wine?
Would he like to see his kid?
Would this much food suffice?
- Would is sometimes used when asking the questions ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘why’ or ‘how’.
What would they do to solve this problem?
Who would want to go out in this freezing weather?
Where would they spend Christmas?
When would she come visit her friend in Paris?
Why would he do such thing?
How would you like to pay?
- You can use Would when making polite requests.
Would you like something to eat?
Would he do it for her?
Would they go to the pharmacy and buy me some medicines?
- You can use Would when talking about hypothetical situations.
If I had a lot of money, I would buy a mansion.
I would like to meet and have a conversation with the president.
She would live in abroad if it weren’t so complicated to uproot her whole family.
Uses of Could
- You can use Could when talking about possibilities in present, past, and future tense.
Present: Adam could be the one who left the door unlocked.
Past: Martin could have been the one who ate all the cookies.
Future: Lena could quit her job soon.
- Could is used as conditional of Can. It can be used in present, past, and future tense.
Present: If she had more time now, she could stay longer.
Past: Even if he had had more money last year, he couldn’t have returned to his hometown in the countryside.
Future: If I had more vacation days next year, I could travel more.
- You can use Could when making suggestions in the past and future tense.
Past: I could have met you when I went there last week.
Future: They could go to Maldives for their honeymoon.
- You can use Could when talking about abilities in the past form.
I could memorize songs more easily when I was a kid.
He could swim faster when he was in his 20s.
Two years ago, I couldn’t exercise for more than a minute.
- Lastly, you can also use Could when making polite requests.
Could I have some tea, please?
Could you take these documents to her office?
Could I take this bottle of wine home?