should/should be

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1

Is there a subtle difference in meaning between two sentences?
If so, I would like to know the difference.

  1. I should go.
  2. I should be going.
2

Hi, Wowenglish:

The difference is the same as the one between the simple and continuous tenses, I think.

e.g.

  1. I go (usual,habitual action).
  2. I’m going (action at the moment).

Your sentence includes additional (modal) meaning: advisability, responsibility, duty and so on…

3

[color=blue]The two sentences can have the same meaning, and each sentence can refer to the present or to the future.
Right now I cannot think of a situation in which they would have different meanings.
Can anyone think of such a situation?

4

Here is my comment on the difference:

I should go to the meeting = It is the right thing for me to do.

I should be going to the meeting now = The time has now arrived when it is necessary for me to go, otherwise I’ll be late.

Alan

5

[color=blue]But you added “now”, so they are not the same two sentences anymore.

6

Take the ‘now’ off and the statements remain valid.

7

[color=blue]No, the sentences can have exactly the same meaning.

8

As illustrated, there is a difference.

9

[color=blue]1) Please tell us which post illustrated a difference between the two sentences the OP asked about.
2) I never said that it is impossible for the two original sentences to have a difference in meaning. But so far, no one has come up with a difference. I am still thinking about it though.

10

Post #4.

11

[color=blue]I don’t think so!

12

Someone has come up with a difference.The fact that you can’t see it doesn’t make it less so. There’s really nothing more to be said.

13

Hello, Canadian, why not look at the situation this way?

Suppose that the meeting is slated to be held at the conference hall housed in an adjoining building, at 2 PM, and that now it is just 12 PM. You, Alan and I are together. We agree to decide thus: We should go to the meeting.

Shortly thereafter we leave. But, you and I happen to meet again after lunch, say at 1.45 PM. You tell me: I saw Alan making for the adjoining building. I would now respond, in all probability, like this: He should be going to the meeting. Let’s hurry up. (We should be going, too)

I think I have made myself clear. If so, there is difference between the two sentences under discussion.

14

Thanks, Anglophile for your amplification and also for mentioning my name. The ‘someone’ in post 12 obviously can’t bring herself to mention it!

Alan

15

It’s my pleasure, Alan. Well, I did notice the casual and callous allusion, too.

16

I’ve noticed plenty of your allusions of late, Anglophile. You seem to have quite a chip on your shoulder too.

17

It seems I can’t win with you even when I am supporting your views!
Did it really matter who said it?
Your ego is showing. It’s not a pretty sight.

18

It has every reason to show!

19

[quote=“Anglophile”]

20

p.s.

I can understand that people may be used to using different words in different situations, but that in itself doesn’t mean that the meanings are different.