should 一词在中学英语课本中出现频率很高。它的用法灵活、含义丰富,因而一直是历年高考关注的热点。现将其具体用法分述如下:
一 . should 作为助动词 shall 的过去式,可以在间接引语中与第一人称主语搭配,表示过去将来时间。例如:
The group leader announced that we should (= would ) begin to work soon.
小组长宣布:我们不久就开始工作。
A week ago, I told him that I should (= would) go to Beijing the next day.
一个星期以前,我告诉他我第二天就去北京。
二 . should 作为情态动词,通常用来表示现在或将来的责任或义务,译作“应该”、“应当”,这时它可以和 ought to, be supposed to 互换使用。例如:
You should (= are supposed to ) complete your test in time.
你们应该按时做完你们的实验。
You should (= ought to ) tell your mother about it at once.
你应该立即把此事告诉你妈妈。
In sum, theory should be combined with practice.
总之,理论应该与实验相结合。