Emotional ‘should’

We can use ‘should’ in ‘that-clauses’ when we talk about our own reaction to something we are reporting. In this case ‘should’ is a modal verb adding emotional colouring to the statement. The perfect infinitive is used when referring to past events which preceded the action of the main clause. Notice that when we leave out ‘should’ we use the indicative mood, not subjunctive I.

A	concerned amazed be happening I’m disappointed that something should happen surprised have happened upset

E.g.: I am concerned that she should think I stole the money.

I am concerned that she thinks I stole the money.

B	amazing annoying be happening It is/was disappointing that something should happen ridiculous have happened strange

E.g.: It’s amazing that she should have said nothing about the murder.

It’s amazing that she said nothing about the murder.

Ex. 1 Fill in the correct form of the infinitive after emotional ‘should’.

1. It's ridiculous that we have to wait six weeks to receive the information.

2. It’s strange that the results of the official investigation have been kept a secret for so long.

3. It’s annoying that they don’t believe me.

4. She was surprised that there was no one there to greet her.

5. I was disappointed that we had lost though we played so well.

6. Your father is astonished that he’s heard nothing from you for weeks.

Ex. 2 Identify ‘should’ as a modal verb for emotional colouring or an auxiliary verb for the Suppositional mood.

1. It’s ridiculous that we should be short of water in a country where it is always raining. 2. It’s recommended that you get some professional advice. 3. I suggest you should phone before you go round there. 4. I’m sorry that you should have had a row with Pat. 5. Experts advise that sunscreen should be reapplied every one to two hours. 6. It's strange that we should never have met before. 7. It's outrageous that the poor should pay such high taxes. 8. It’s important that everyone should pay taxes.

Ex. 3 Supply the necessary forms for the verbs given in brackets in subject subordinate clauses. Give two variants where possible:

E.g.: It’s outrageous that he should be/ is so rude with his sister.

It was important that they should make up/ make up their quarrel.

1. He had spent the first part of the night lying rigid and telling him­self how important it was that he …(sleep). 2. It's wonderful that they …(give) you a present. 3. It was arranged that his wife …(join) him in six months. 4. It was all wrong that someone so young … (be) so ill. 5. She listened in silence to Mel's explanation why it was essential that he … (remain) at the airport. 6. It's not fair that the girl … (be sent) to bed so early on a day like this. 7. It had long been decided that I …(spend) a fourth year at Cambridge doing psychology. 8. It was advisable that she … (continue) the treatment. 9. It was unnatural the way he … (keep) his feeling in check. 11. It was amazing that this coarse man … (be) so worried about a dog. 12. It was arranged that I …(pick) up Hudson at his flat after lunch. 13. It’s obviously necessary that an investigation … (be made)

Ex. 4 Say it in English.

1. Порадили, щоб ми відправили посилку морем. 2. Наприкінці було вирішено, что вони організують вечірку. 3. В цьому випадку суттєво, щоб він не наробив помилок. 4. Домовились, що ми зустрінемось в кафе за чашкою кави. 5. Було дивно, що вона так розсердилась через підгорілий обід. 6. Я здивована, що ти ніколи не чув про ‘Rolling Stones’. 7. Було бажано, щоб він, наслідуючи сімейні традиції, вступив до юридичної школи. 8. Дивно, що вони поводяться, як діти. 9. Важливо, щоб усі документи були підписані. 10. Це несправедливо, що декілька привілейованих (a few privileged) продовжують акумулювати багатство. 11. Чудово, що вона сама взялась за це завдання. 12. Суттєво, щоб всі знали, що вони мають робити. 13. Для успіху будь-якої фірми важливо, щоб всі партнери працювали узгоджено. (be in complete accord)

Ex. 5 What do you find strange, amazing, annoying or disappointing about studying at university.