Advice: Should, Shouldn’t, Ought to, Had Better, and Had Better Not

Advice for Travelers

11

Focus on Grammar 2Part XI, Unit 38By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ WellsCopyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

I think you should take some warm sweaters.

I think you should take some warm sweaters.

You ought to bring a Spanish

dictionary.

You ought to bring a Spanish

dictionary.

You shouldn’t

forget your passport.

You shouldn’t

forget your passport.

You Should Finish Packing !You Should Finish Packing !

What should I pack for my trip

to Peru?

What should I pack for my trip

to Peru?

ShouldShould

Use should to give advice or talk about what is right to do.

You should obey the traffic laws of

this city.

You should obey the traffic laws of

this city.

He should get a better map.He should to get a better map.

He should gets a better map.

FormForm

Should is followed by the base form of the verb.

Base FormVerb

Base FormVerb

NegativeNegative

Use should not for the negative.

You should not bring so many

suitcases.

You should not bring so many

suitcases.

ContractionContraction

Use the contraction shouldn’t in speaking and informal writing.

You shouldn’t get lost.

You shouldn’t get lost.

Present and FuturePresent and Future

We use should to talk about the present or future.

I should put on some sunscreen right now.I should put on some sunscreen right now.

We should take another tour tomorrow.

We should take another tour tomorrow.

PresentPresent

FutureFuture

Practice 1Practice 1Use should or shouldn’t + the base form verb to give advice for each situation.

1.

2. 3.

Example:

He should see a doctor.

He should see a doctor.

Ought toOught to

Ought to means the same as should.

I ought to get some

insect repellent.

I ought to get some

insect repellent.

Usage Note 1Usage Note 1

Ought to is not usually used in questions or negative statements.

Ought I to open the window?

Ought I to open the window?

Should I open

Usage Note 2Usage Note 2

To sound more polite, use I think or Maybe before saying “you should” or “you ought to.”

Maybe you should

leave me alone.

Maybe you should

leave me alone.

I think you should buy

cheaper airline tickets .

I think you should buy

cheaper airline tickets .

Had Better and Had Better NotHad Better and Had Better Not

Use had better to give advice. It is followed by the base form of the verb. The negative is had better not.

You had better call to check your flight.

You had better remember your passport.

Practice 2Practice 2Use should, shouldn’t, and ought to with I think and maybe to give advice about visiting your country. Use the topics below.

Example: Food

1. Clothing

2. Transportation

3. Language

4. Shopping

5. Places to Visit

6. Cultural Customs

I think you ought to try the

spiced lamb.

I think you ought to try the

spiced lamb.

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and its licensors. All rights reserved.

ReferencesReferences