Learn English – Should do vs should be doing

differencemeaning

What's the difference between:

What should we be doing if the inflation goes up?

and

What should we do if inflation goes up?

Best Answer

  • What should we be doing if inflation goes up?

The progressive form here indicates an increased concern about the problem. The progressive makes the action more immediate to perception.

I wouldn't suggest this construction to refer to a conditional, hypothetical future.

However, it can be used in such examples:

  • "What should we be doing when Mary comes tomorrow?"
  • "We should be collecting cherry in the garden."

The second fits in here best:

  • What should we do if inflation goes up? (What should we do in the future if hypothetically the inflation goes up?)

The first would fit in good enough if it were constructed this way:

  • What should we be doing if we want the inflation not to go up? (What are we doing wrong now and what should we do instead?)

Compared to:

  • What should we do if we want the inflation not to go up? (What measures should be taken?)
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