WOULD OR SHOULD.[78]—­“Should and would follow the same rules as shall and will, but they have in addition certain meanings peculiarly their own.

“Should is sometimes used in its original sense of ‘ought,’ as in ’You should not do that.’

“Would is sometimes used to signify habitual action, as in ’The ’Squire would sometimes fall asleep in the most pathetic part of my sermon;’ and to express a wish, as, ’Would God I had died for thee, O Absalom, my son, my son!’"[79]

[78] “Foundations,” pp. 88-90. [79] A.S.  Hill:  Principles of Rhetoric, revised edition, p 63.

EXERCISE XLIV.

Distinguish in meaning between the following sentences:—­

1.  I will (shall) meet you in the village. 2.  I will (shall) be obeyed. 3.  Will he come?  Shall he come? 4.  You will (shall) repent of this. 5.  He will (shall) not see me. 6.  You will (shall) have a new suit to-morrow. 7.  Shall (will) you stay at home to-night? 8.  We will (shall) not be left alone. 9.  She will (shall) have a reward if she continues faithful. 10.  He would (should) start in spite of the danger. 11.  Shall (will) you be a candidate? 12.  He said he would (should) not go. 13.  I shall (will) never see him again. 14.  You will (shall) know to-morrow the result of the examination. 15.  Will (shall) he who fails be allowed to try again? 16.  Will (shall) the admission fee be twenty-five or fifty cents? 17.  He thought there would (should) be a charge. 18.  I will (shall) be the last to go. 19.  He thought I would (should) wait. 20.  He says that she will (shall) not eat watermelon. 21.  If she disobeyed she would (should) be punished. 22.  Do you think I should (would) go under the circumstances? 23.  If they would (should) come, the danger would be averted. 24.  If I would (should) say so, he would dislike me. 25.  He says he will (shall) not come, since she forgot him at first. 26.  We will (shall) come as soon as we can. 27.  I will (shall) not endure his rudeness. 28.  John says he will (shall) stay to see the game.

EXERCISE XLV.

Insert the proper auxiliary (will, shall) in each blank in the following sentences:—­

1.  I ——­ be drowned; nobody ——­ help me. 2.  You ——­ have a wet day for your journey. 3.  He says he ——­ not be able to come. 4.  We ——­ not soon forget this picnic. 5.  He ——­ repent of his folly when it is too late. 6.  We ——­ be pleased to have you call. 7.  The gathering ——­ be informal; therefore I ——­ not need my dress suit 8.  We ——­ have occasion to test the wires to-night. 9.  I ——­ be obliged to you for your autograph. 10.  He ——­ be obliged to you. 11.  The managers have agreed that the race ——­ be rowed again. 12.  Do you think we ——­ have rain? 13.  If the fire is not put out soon, we ——­ have the whole town to