Grammar - Giving Advice with "Should"

Read the text and complete the activities below.

We use "should" to give advice, make recommendations, or say what we think is a good idea. Let's look at how to use it!

1. Affirmative: Should

We use should when we think something is a good idea or the right thing to do.
Structure: Subject + should + base verb

• You should drink more water every day.
• He should see a doctor because he is sick.
• We should study for our English test tonight.

2. Negative: Shouldn't (Should not)

We use shouldn't when we think something is a bad idea.
Structure: Subject + shouldn't + base verb

• You shouldn't eat too much junk food.
• She shouldn't go to bed so late.
• They shouldn't talk loudly in the library.

3. Interrogative: Asking for advice

We put should before the subject to ask for advice or an opinion.
Structure: Should + subject + base verb?

• Should I buy this red shirt?
• What should we make for dinner?
• Where should they go for their vacation?

ACTIVITIES

Exercise 1: Multiple Choice

Choose the correct word to complete each sentence.

1. You have a test tomorrow morning. You _____ study now.

should

shouldn't

are

2. It's raining very hard outside. He _____ forget his umbrella.

should

shouldn't

does

3. I have a terrible headache. _____ I take some medicine?

Should

Shouldn't

Do

4. They are very tired. They _____ go to bed late tonight.

should

isn't

shouldn't

5. Your tooth hurts a lot. You _____ see a dentist.

shouldn't

should

aren't

Exercise 2: Unscramble the Sentences

Drag and drop the words into the correct order to make sentences.

1.

should

water

you

drink

more

.

2.

shouldn't

eat

much

candy

he

so

.

3.

we

what

do

should

?

4.

watch

they

this

movie

should

.

5.

late

arrive

shouldn't

she

.

Exercise 3: Match the Problem to the Advice

Drag the correct advice and drop it next to the problem.

A. You should wear a warm coat.

B. You should get a part-time job to save up.

C. You should sleep earlier at night.

D. You should take a language course.

E. You should buy a new one or fix it.

1. I am always tired in the morning.

2. I want to learn Spanish for my trip.

3. It is very cold outside today.

4. My phone is broken and won't turn on.

5. I want to buy a new video game, but I don't have any money.