What is the simplest version of this sentence which is also grammatically correct?
Tell me what I should be doing in that case if there is anything I should do.
1- Tell me… if there is anything
2- Tell me… if there is
3- Tell me… if only
I just made this up to ask if there is some very sleek one word to refer to whole thing as I am quite used to reading such expressions…
Best Answer
As it stands the sentence is clumsy and grammatically incorrect.
We could just correct the grammar
That's at least close but it still sounds awkward and unnatural.
Before looking at alternatives it may be worth mentioning that learners often have problems distinguishing between should and can:
"Tell me what I should do" implies the presence of an obligation or duty. It may be formal as in a legal or contractual requirement or it may be moral as would be the case in a personal, family or other social expectation.
"Tell me what I can do", on the other hand, is more of an offer to do something.
Back to the main question...
What is actually being asked here?
The most likely circumstance is that the speaker suspects that there is something that they are required or expected to do but they are not sure what it is.
A typical real-life example would be a person in a new job who is uncertain of what is required of them.
There are quite a few natural sounding, grammatically correct alternatives. Examples include: