مدونة التربية و التعليم في الجزائر – دروس، فروض، نتائج امتحانات مدونة التربية والتعليم في الجزائر | تحضير الدروس، فروض واختبارات، نتائج البكالوريا وBEM، مسابقات التوظيف، والتوجيه المدرسي للطلاب وأولياء الأمور.
Introduction
Giving advice is an important communication skill in English. We use modal verbs and expressions to suggest what someone should or shouldn’t do. In this lesson, we will learn how to give advice using should, ought to, and had better, with clear rules, examples, and practice exercises.
Lesson Objectives
- Learn how to give advice using should and shouldn’t
- Understand the use of ought to and ought not to
- Learn the difference between had better and should
- Practice giving advice in different situations
1. Using “Should” and “Shouldn’t”
“Should” is the most common way to give advice. It means “it is a good idea to do something.”
Structure
| Affirmative | Negative | Question |
|---|---|---|
| Subject + should + base verb | Subject + shouldn’t + base verb | Should + subject + base verb? |
| You should study hard. | You shouldn’t eat too much sugar. | Should I call him? |
Examples
- You should drink more water every day.
- She shouldn’t stay up late before exams.
- Should we tell the teacher about the problem?
- They should arrive on time for the meeting.
2. Using “Ought to” and “Ought not to”
“Ought to” has a similar meaning to “should” but is slightly more formal. It expresses moral obligation or strong advice.
Structure
| Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|
| Subject + ought to + base verb | Subject + ought not to + base verb |
| You ought to respect your parents. | You ought not to lie to your friends. |
Examples
- We ought to help people in need.
- Students ought to do their homework regularly.
- You ought not to waste water.
- He ought to apologize for his mistake.
3. Using “Had Better” and “Had Better Not”
“Had better” (often contracted to ‘d better) is used for strong advice or warning. It implies there will be negative consequences if the advice is not followed.
Structure
| Affirmative | Negative |
|---|---|
| Subject + had better + base verb | Subject + had better not + base verb |
| You ‘d better see a doctor. | You ‘d better not go outside in this storm. |
Examples
- It’s raining heavily. You ‘d better take an umbrella.
- We ‘d better hurry or we’ll miss the bus.
- He ‘d better not be late again.
- You ‘d better finish your homework before playing.
4. Difference Between Should, Ought to, and Had Better
| Expression | Strength | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| Should | Medium | General advice, recommendations |
| Ought to | Medium-Strong | Moral obligation, strong advice |
| Had better | Strong | Warning, immediate advice with consequences |
Compare:
- You should exercise regularly. (general advice)
- You ought to tell the truth. (moral obligation)
- You ‘d better see a doctor now. (strong warning — it’s urgent)
Exercises
- Complete the sentences with should, shouldn’t, ought to, ought not to, had better, or had better not:
- You ___________ eat too much junk food. It’s unhealthy.
- We ___________ leave now or we’ll be late for school.
- She ___________ study more if she wants to pass the exam.
- You ___________ tell lies. It’s wrong.
- He ___________ take a break. He looks very tired.
- Rewrite the sentences using ought to:
- You should respect your teachers.
- We should save water.
- Give advice for these situations using had better:
- Your friend has a high fever.
- Your brother doesn’t have a ticket for the train.
Summary
We can give advice in English using different modal expressions. Should is used for general advice, ought to expresses moral obligation, and had better is used for strong warnings with consequences. The structure is: Subject + modal + base verb (without “to” for should and had better, but with “to” for ought to). Practice using these expressions in daily conversations to improve your English!
For more English lessons for 4th Year Middle School, check out:
Reported Speech (Direct and Indirect Speech) and
Passive Voice (Active to Passive) in Different Tenses.
