"He would" vs "He should"

Question

"He would" vs "He should"

Both 'he should' and 'he would' are correct phrases, but they are used in different contexts. 'He should' is used to express obligation, duty, or a recommendation, while 'he would' is used to talk about hypothetical situations, preferences, or past habits.

Last Updated: April 05, 2024

Use 'he would' to discuss what he might do in a hypothetical situation, express preferences, or describe past habits or repeated actions.

Examples:

He would help you if he could.
He would rather stay home than go out tonight.
He would always arrive early for work.
He would often go for a walk after dinner.
He would choose the blue shirt over the red one.

Alternatives:

he might
he could
he preferred to
he used to
he tended to

Use 'he should' to indicate that something is the right thing to do or the best course of action for him.

Examples:

He should study for the exam if he wants to pass.
He should apologize for his mistake.
He should call his parents to let them know he's safe.
He should be more careful when crossing the street.
He should eat more vegetables for better health.

Alternatives:

he ought to
he is supposed to
he is recommended to
he is advised to
he is expected to

Answer 1

He would

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to talk about hypothetical situations, preferences, or past habits.

Answer 2

He should

This phrase is correct and commonly used in English to express obligation, duty, or a recommendation.