Should Be vs Would Be: Difference and Comparison

The words ‘should be’ and ‘would be’ are modal verbs that are auxiliary in English. These words are used with any infinite verb to convey, request or say something to someone.

According to the English dictionary, both these words have their characteristics and meanings, which makes them different.

Key Takeaways

  1. “Should be” implies that something is recommended, necessary, or expected to happen in a certain way.
  2. “Would be” implies that something is conditional or hypothetical, depending on a specific situation or circumstance.
  3. “Should be” is more authoritative and authoritarian, while “would be” more tentative and subjective.

Should Be vs Would Be

The word ‘should be’ is the past tense of the word shall be, which is in the future tense, and on the other hand, the term ‘would be’ is the past tense of the word shall be, which is in the future tense when they have to be used in a sentence.

Should Be vs Would Be

When a person wants to denote or state a particular duty or obligation to some other person regarding a specific thing at a specific time, saying that it is compulsory to be done, then that person uses the word ‘should be’ in their sentence to help them state the degree of how important it is.

When a person wants to denote or state a particular request or suggestion to some other person regarding a specific thing at an exact time, saying that doing something in that specified way may be better than that person using the word ‘Would be’ in their sentence for a better sense of communication.

Comparison Table

Parameters of ComparisonShould BeWould Be
Function‘Should be’ denotes an obligation and necessity in a sentence.‘Would be’ denotes a request, suggestion, or possibility in a sentence.
Past tense ofThe word ‘Should be’ in the past tense of the term shall be in the future tense.The word ‘would be’ is in the past tense of the term and shall be in the future tense.
Manner used forThe word ‘should be’ is used in a sentence compulsively.The word ‘would be’ is used for sentences customarily.
ContingencyWhen ‘should be’ is used, the action will happen.When ‘Would be’ is used, the action may or may not happen in a sentence.
Degree of intensityThe degree of power is more when the word ‘should be’ is used.The degree of intensity is less when the word ‘would be’ is used.

What is Should Be?

When a person wants to denote or state a particular duty or obligation to some other person regarding a specific thing at a specific time, saying that it is compulsory to be done, then that person uses the word ‘should be’ in their sentence to help them state the degree of how important it is.

This word is used to direct to do something which may be wrong or right. It is used when it comes to judging the activities of people. It is used to tell which is the best choice out of something and to state if there is a chance of something happening or not.

Following are some examples where ‘Should be’ is used in a sentence-

  1. I should be going home now, or else I’ll get late.
  2. We should be at the party by evening 7 pm.
  3. This should be placed under that table.
  4. What should be played with vanilla ice cream?
should be

What is Would Be?

When a person wants to denote or state a particular request or suggestion to some other person regarding a specific thing at an exact time, saying that doing something in that specified way may be better than that person using the word ‘Would be’ in their sentence for a better sense of communication.

This word is used when someone wants to attend to do something in a particular way. It is used to talk about events that occurred in the past regarding actions and reactions in a statement.

Sometimes it also acts as an adjective in a sentence. It describes or aspires to something in a verdict for the future.

Following are some examples where ‘Would be’ is used in a sentence-

  1. I would be honoured to attend the grand ceremony at the palace.
  2. We would have had fun if we had gone to the circus.
  3. That would be a good idea.
  4. She would be going to college tomorrow.
would

Main Differences Between Should Be and Would Be

  1. Should be’ is the past tense of the word shall be, which is in the future tense, and on the other hand, the word ‘would be’ is the past tense of the term shall be, which is in the future tense.
  2. The word ‘would be’ is used for sentences customarily, while the word ‘should be’ is used in a sentence compulsively.
  3. When ‘Would be’ is used, the action may or may not happen in a sentence, and on the other hand, when ‘should be’ is used, the step is sure to happen.
  4. The degree of intensity is less when the word ‘would be’ is used, and on the other hand, the degree of power is more when the word ‘should be’ is used.
  5. ‘Would be’ is used to denote a request, suggestion, or possibility in a sentence, while ‘should be’ is used to denote an obligation and necessity in a sentence.
Difference Between Should Be and Would Be
References
  1. https://www.jstor.org/stable/23218033
  2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmc3515766/

Last Updated : 11 June, 2023

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25 thoughts on “Should Be vs Would Be: Difference and Comparison”

  1. You’ve presented an exceptional analysis on the contrast between ‘should be’ and ‘would be’. And I would say it’s a very impressive piece.

    Reply
  2. This is a very insightful examination of the nuances between ‘should be’ and ‘would be’. I wouldn’t be surprised if this sparks further engaging conversations.

    Reply
  3. Your comparison makes a very compelling case. Though I would emphasize that the discretion in using ‘would be’ should not be taken lightly.

    Reply
  4. I would think the relationship is more complex than that. While ‘should be’ denotes an obligation, it wouldn’t be advisable to overlook the subtle implications of ‘would be’ in any conversation.

    Reply
    • True, ‘would be’ certainly introduces a different tone to a conversation. It’s not as straightforward as ‘should be’.

      Reply
  5. No doubt – ‘should be’ is much more definitive, but I would consider that ‘would be’ contributes more to a nuanced conversation.

    Reply
  6. While ‘should be’ comes across as more authoritative, I wouldn’t discard the versatility that ‘would be’ can bring to a dialogue.

    Reply
  7. You’ve presented a thorough and meticulous comparison of ‘should be’ and ‘would be’. I would say this is an exceptional contribution to this.

    Reply
  8. One might say that ‘should be’ is somewhat more definitive, but I would argue that ‘would be’ gives a speaker more room to maneuver.

    Reply
  9. Well, I should say you’ve done a great job explaining the nuances of ‘should be’ and ‘would be’. I guess one could argue that the power of ‘should be’ always carries more weight than the hypothetical ‘would be’.

    Reply
    • Absolutely. It’s pretty clear that ‘should be’ implies a duty or obligation, while ‘would be’ describes a request or suggestion. It’s a subtlety that can easily be misinterpreted.

      Reply
  10. It’s illuminating to distinguish the roles that ‘should be’ and ‘would be’ play. I would add that their distinction enriches the language.

    Reply

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