Should and should have/Nitty-gritty/in a nutshell

Should and should have

Dear Dr English

Is there any difference in the meaning between the structures "should do something" and

"should have done something"? Please explain.

Somtawin Nimitchan

"Should" is a modal. When one says that someone should do something one thinks that the

action or the behaviour is morally right.

Illegal practices should be punished.

Or you think it is a good idea and important for you or somebody else to do a particular thing and it would be senseless or stupid not to do it.

Grandma has high cholesterol and should stay on a low-fat diet.

You can also use "should" to criticise someone's attitude or behaviour.

Why don't you pick on somebody your own size? You should be ashamed of yourself, bullying someone smaller than you are.

The structure "should have done something" shows a past action that someone did not do

although it was the right thing to do.

You should have told the boss about the cancellation of the meeting [but did not tell the boss].

Illegal practices should have been punished [but were not punished].

Grandma had a high cholesterol level and should have stayed on a low-fat diet [but did not

stay on one].

You should have been ashamed of yourself bullying someone smaller [but were not ashamed of it].

Nitty-gritty/in a nutshell

Dear Dr English

Do the expressions "nitty-gritty" and "in a nutshell" mean the same? If not, what does each expression mean? Thanks.

Mannewan Sookmuang

The two expressions do not mean the same. When we talk about the nitty-gritty of a matter, situation, activity etc, we talk about the details and important parts of it.

We should talk about the nitty-gritty of the whole project so everybody knows exactly what they are supposed to do and why.

To put something in a nutshell means to state the matter in an extremely concise way that summarises the main points or to say it in as few words as possible.

I don't have much time: could you put the problem in a nutshell?

By Dr English

drenglish_7@hotmail.com