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What's the difference between すべき (subeki) and べき (beki)?

> [すべき (subeki)](http://jisho.org/word/%E3%81%99%E5%8F%AF%E3%81%8D) = should
> do; ought to do
>
> [べき](http://jisho.org/word/%E5%8F%AF%E3%81%8D) (beki) = should; must; that
> one ought to; to be done

Both mean "should", but is there a rule as to when to use one instead of the
other?

Here are some examples from my text book:

> _motto sentakushi ga aru beki dato omoimasu._  
>  I think there should be more choice
>
> _Nani o subeki ka wakarimasu yo._  
>  You'll know what to do, I'm telling you.

What's the difference between the two? In the examples above, they seem to
perform the same function. So why is one used over the other?
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2016-12-10T21:59:43.777
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2016-12-11T08:57:41.567
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question
grammar word-choice abbreviations
What's the difference between すべき (subeki) and べき (beki)?
べき is used with a verb in its "dictionary form".

> [verb]べき  
>  should [verb]

As you can see, べき by itself corresponds to "should", _but it never appears by
itself_ (just like "should" doesn't appear by itself).

You can easily form examples,

> 食べるべき = should eat  
>  行くべき = should go

You only need to remember one additional rule,

> する＋べき → すべき

(About one in twelve times people also use するべき, probably in contexts where する
is felt to be used for more than its usual auxiliary function, so don't be
surprised if you see it.)

* * *

So

> [verb]べき = should [verb]
>
> するべき ≒ すべき = should do

In one line, you don't choose between べき and すべき, you only choose a verb to go
with べき and if it's する, then it becomes すべき.
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2016-12-11T08:33:58.793
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2016-12-11T08:57:41.567
2020-06-17T08:18:27.500
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answer