Write Right - Defence Academy of the United Kingdom

Could, would and shouldThere is sometimes confusion over when to use could, would andshould.Could is connected with the word can. I could can be explained as I can,under certain conditions. Could is, therefore, known as the conditional ofcan.Similarly ‘should’ is the conditional of shall and would is the conditional ofwill.Could implies a physical possibility without indicating whether or not theaction will take place or ought to take place.Should gives the idea of duty or preference, and can often be replacedby ought to.Would implies that, under the given circumstances, the action will takeplace whether it is desirable or not.If he were stronger he could lift this weight. (He could lift it, but wedo not know whether he will or ought to).If he were stronger he would lift this weight. (He will lift it, if hebecomes stronger).If he were stronger he should lift this weight. (He ought to lift it, butwe don’t know if he will).As a further example, consider the following short passage:The visitors could travel by train, but they would then have difficultywith their luggage and equipment. Therefore a car should beprovided for them.’This passage could be rewritten as:It will be possible for the visitors to travel by train. However, if theydo, they will have difficulty with their luggage and equipment.Therefore a car ought to be provided for them.37