You might think that only writers and grammar nazis care about should, would, and could in a sentence. True – editors would berate you the use of would and could with examples, but therapists would think differently. Now, I’m no doctor of psychology, but using those words in my life choices can be mind-blowing.
You can use them too. It’ll be confusing. It’ll be hard. It can make you fall in and out of love of grammar. But, here’s why you should try these auxiliaries in your life and understand how it can change your perspectives and decisions.
All You Need To Know About Should, Would, and Could
Let’s have a little discussion over the use of should, would, and could. They are auxiliary verbs intended to form the mood and voice of main verbs. They are considered as the past tense of can, shall, and will, as well. How they depict and change grammar in a sentence can also alter your psyche.
Isn’t that something cool? Let’s talk beyond grammar now.
Not only they form correct sentence structure and meaning, they can also elevate mood and voice in a different way. Through your psyche, soul, determination, will, and way. Whatever you may call it, these auxiliary verbs affect your life too. Let’s do a rundown on its uses first.
Should, Could and Would Difference
These auxiliaries convey time and condition of the incidence. You might automatically think that everything they do happened in the past, but they have an immediate effect in the future as well.
Should
1. Should, like its future tense, shall, has a strong voice that’s meant to give advice, recommendation, opinion, and even an obligation.
Example: You should not be idling around!
You should see the doctor tomorrow morning.
You should exercise more often.
2. You should (funny, I placed it here) also know that the word is used to express a probable action. What I mean to say is that the occurrence must or ought to happen.
Example: You should be at the auditorium at 2PM.
Timmy should come to the dance with Mal.
I should go out and see the new movie tonight.
The same applies when you’re asking questions:
Should we be home by now?
Should I dump my trash here?
3. Your current probability can lead to a possible future scenario.
Example: Should I see Mr. Garcia, I will tell him of your leave.
Should I’ve known that you’ll only cheat behind my back, I wouldn’t go as far as to London to see you.
Should I die tonight, never let my family know about the evil things I’ve done just to protect them.
4. Should also lets you in with hypothetical guesses that leaves people with a certain decision.
Example: Should you fancy a quick bite, there’s a jar of cookies in the kitchen.
Should you take Mr. Fluffy out today, remember to put his diapers, okay?
Keep in mind on how to use should:
- Strong opinion, order, advice, etc.
- Occurrence must be probable
- It states strong and affirmative voices like ought, must, and do
Could
1. Could can hint possibility over the occurrence. It suggests the likelihood of a situation, but can be something else.
Example: Whose wallet is this? It could be Ned’s. He left hastily, though. [Or, it could be somebody else’s and not necessarily Ned]
You could prove to them that you’re better! [Or not]
You could say that again. [Nope.]
2. Unlike should, could shows a polite request. The voice shows that it’s neither strong nor too feeble to ask someone for help or bidding.
Example: Could you please pass the lobster sauce? [The recipient can or cannot pass the sauce depending on the situation. Like the recipient is too busy to pass the sauce.]
Hi, everyone. I could use a hand right now. [They might or might not help you.]
3. Could can be used in possible future scenarios too.
Example: Jaime and I could meet up with you tonight. [Or Jaime and I have other plans.]
After our discussion today, what will you do? I could go out and meet with our youth advocates. [Or will just do that tomorrow.]
4. Could is, of course, the past tense of can. So, it is only normal to use it for an occurrence in the past.
Examples: Last week, you couldn’t finish typing a 10,000-word article in three days. But look at you go right now!
A year ago, I could only run a kilometer in 15 minutes, Now, it’s just 7 minutes!
I couldn’t pick up the courage to talk about my past to you, but, now I can.
Keep in mind on how to use could:
- Making polite or formal requests
- The occurrence must be possible
Would
1. Would is funny auxiliary as it can be used in an imaginary or unreal situation. But it can also be placed in a hypothetical situation – it can happen or not. But its chances are often wildly out of reach. Who knows?
Example: If you were his girlfriend, what would you do? I’d dump him on the spot.
I would love to be a princess, someday.
If I have one billion in my bank account, I would buy three cruise companies.
2. Would, like could, is also placed in a setting where one can make polite offers.
Example: Would you like me to demonstrate the procedures?
Would you like to have some honey on your toast?
I would like to ask for your permission to marry your daughter.
3. The auxiliary can be paired up with the five (5) W’s and one (1) H: what, why, who, where, when, and how.
Example: How would you do the research?
When would the Grand Prix happen?
What would she think of her friend’s new boyfriend?
Why would you do that to me?
Who would you choose to go out with you tonight?
Where would you get eight buckets of chicken and a gallon of ice cream at 2AM?
4. Would can show theoretical guesses if the past occurrences would have changed.
Example: I would’ve waited for you had I known you left the meeting early.
I would have been on my deathbed had it not for your intervention.
She would’ve missed the bus if not for Mike’s early attempt on changing her mind.
5. Would is one auxiliary that has many uses. Here, we can have the word show a habitual or repetitive action in the past.
Example: When we were kids, my cousin would cry every time her dad leaves home.
Grandma would sing at the garden every summer.
When I was a child, I would jump over the fence and chase the chickens away.
6. Would can also show people a wish, plan, desire, intentions, and choices.
Example: I would rather remain single than to live an unhappy life with that man.
Mina would like to have that book done by tomorrow.
Jet said he would come by this afternoon.
7. If you’re doubting the situation, would can be a great auxiliary verb to use.
Example: It would seem that Chris was telling the truth. But what about Jess’ claims?
If you’d do it like that, it’d seem that you’re being shady to the police.
You answer to the essay question would seem to be incorrect.
Keep in mind on how to use would:
- Used in hypothetical, imaginary, or unreal situations
- Often paired with who, what, when, where, why, and how
- For past repetitive actions
- If past situation changes and you can provide an outcome
- For plans, desire, intentions, choice, and wishes
Have you noticed that it has been followed by the word, “seem?” Yes. Seem can support the doubt when using the word would.
But what does it all mean for your psyche?
When you want to become productive, or to set your goals better this year, you assert yourself to make it happen. You’ll make claims or to do lists of how you can achieve your dreams. With a little play of words, it can boost you to work and accomplish your tasks.
It’s possible. But, it’s hard.
It’s hard. But, it’s possible.
Which among the sentences assert a negative vibe and a positive one? The first gives out a sense of hopelessness, right? Meanwhile, the second sentence screams positivity because of how the structure ended.
It might sound crazy to many people but a little use of would, could, and should in your life can have a huge impact. You might be a work-at-home parent, freelancer, student, or working professional, but if you jot down your goals and sprinkle it with some auxiliary words, it can be a big deal.
The takeaway
Sample list of goals:
I ______ start organizing my room and/if ____________.
I ______ write that blog or ebook of mine and/if________________.
I ______ take my dog out and/if___________.
I ______ sell my art and merchandise and/if____________.
I_______ learn new skills and/if __________.
I _______exercise more often and/if____________.
I _______ hang out with my family more often and/if __________.
Those are just sample. But, what’s it gonna be?
I should exercise more often and take my diet quite seriously.
I could start organizing my room this afternoon.
I would take my dog out if I were you.
- The should in the first sentence makes you want to work for that. It’s a strong statement that shows you committing to that responsibility.
- Could fits in the sentence. But, hopefully, you get to do your part. There’s a 50-50 possibility that won’t do it if something else caught your attention.
- Are you simply saying it or doing it? Or are you trying to compare yourself with other people and see if it would do you any good?
This is just a sample scenario, guys. You can have other answers with different meanings behind it. But one can’t deny the fact that auxiliary verbs don’t just affect the sentence structure, but as well as your mood and voices. Literally, speaking.
Should is for determination
Its strong voice demands order and obligation. If you are serious about doing something to make your time worthwhile, you should use the word should for that. It gives you a no-nonsense directive for your life’s worth.
I should clean my room.
I should feed the dog every morning.
I should jog more often.
I should call Jenny to help me with this assignment.
Some people might find it daunting to use the word should on their lists of to-do’s. The auxiliary is quite heavy and demanding that people might really feel bad about themselves when they can’t finish the tasks on hand. Yes, there are some people like that. It adds pressure and stresses you out if you can’t meet your own demands.
Could is for a gracious effort
Could sounds soft and gentle. But not too tender to be dismissed by formalities. Could is a word you can use. It hints the possibility of accomplishing a task with enough room for changes and flexibility. If you say, “I could use a help for this project,” it denotes that you can enlist somebody’s support to make your dreams come true.
Its tone is friendlier and you can raise some good people by your side to see you through difficult times on your personal projects and all. I know I sound crazy, but words can actually change your vibe and psyche. Compliment it with how you project your voice and how you move your body and it can be another thing.
However, since could gives only the possibility to do the task, it can mean that you won’t be attending to that task because of other matters. “I could go to the doctor this afternoon [or maybe not].” See my point.
Would is weird and wonderful
If you think of would, the first thing that pops into your head is the word “choice.” It enters the realm of fantasy or unreal life situations and you give out the answers to possible choices with would. I’m not really asking something like, “Would you rather have a dragon or a witch for your best friend?”
“Would you sleep on your task or work on it?”
“Would your boss appreciate what you have worked all summer?
“I would give my money to charity if I had that one hundred billion.”
Since it makes polite offers, would can perk your mood up and be happy about it. Or, you can either “abuse” its niceness or weirdness. Like, if you place would as a person, it would be that weird kid that dreams only of happiness and rainbows. You’ll either love or hate that attitude.
Would also is open to changes and is flexible enough for a person to adapt to his new settings. If something changes, would will redirect it with sensible guesses and answers. On top of that, would shows a great wish and intentions between offers if one knows his or her values and priorities.
“I would rather study than watch that movie right now. Thanks for the invite.”
I know, I know. It depends on the person.
Why make a fuss out of these words?
To people, it’s weird. To me, it’s everything. And I know that some people out there would understand. A simple change of words can make someone’s day. Would, could, and should in grammar can be a means to understand an individual’s engagements. It might also hint some moral or ethical issues within a person.
For example, — Given that you want to attain your goal, you can ask yourself these questions:
What would you do
What should you do
What could you do
“What would you do” is more of exploring your options and seeing the bigger picture for the first time. You’re assessing the issue at hand and might look for possible solutions to it. Remember that would is wonderfully weird? Since you’re still scrutinizing the problem on how to attain your goals, your mind will search for answers.
You stop and think of all the probable or possible solutions. They can be weird, yes. Like say, you want to paint your room. What would you do? You’d probably call for help or do it by yourself, and there’s that possibility of using a firework to explode the bucket and let the paint drip on your wall. Like that episode in Mr. Bean.
Now, you have to narrow your choices to, “What should you do?” Should you call for help, or should you be fine working alone? Should is imperative. Its solid decision will benefit you to completing your task – if you focus on it.
And now, “What could you do.” It’s more of stepping back and taking note of what you’ve done. Done a bad paint job? Could you still fix it or turn it into something else? What could you do to make the work lighter on your part? Calling on your friends? It ain’t too late for that!
And after that – it’s a cycle. You can return to what would you do, then should or could have done. There’s this option as well: you can make your own would, should, and could cycle in your life.
Should vs. could vs. would difference
You either incorporate it in your life or just forget about it. Grammar is a headache enough. But the use of words is exciting and mind-boggling. It can pretty much spruce your productive life.
But are words enough? We all know, it’s all talk, but will there be any actions for it? What do you think?
