© Luke Donovan | Game of English | CC BY-SA 4.0

GZ12.05 - Advice

Choose a grammar card

A - Should - Advice

B - Shouldn't - Negative Advice

C - Ought To - Advice

D - Ought Not To - Negative Advice

E - Must - Strong Advice

© Luke Donovan | Game of English | CC BY-SA 4.0

GZ12.05A - Should - Advice

[P] = Person/subject

[A] = Action (base verb)

Use should to give advice or recommend a good idea.

[P] + should + base verb

You should talk to your manager.

Should suggests what is sensible or helpful. It is advice, not a rule. Use the base verb without to after should.

✓ You should talk to your manager.

✗ You should to talk to your manager.

✗ She should talks to her manager.

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© Luke Donovan | Game of English | CC BY-SA 4.0

GZ12.05B - Shouldn't - Negative Advice

[P] = Person/subject

[A] = Action (base verb)

Use shouldn't to advise someone not to do something.

[P] + shouldn't + base verb

You shouldn't spend so much money.

Shouldn't means you think an action is a bad idea. It is negative advice, not a strict prohibition. The verb stays in its base form.

✓ You shouldn't spend so much money.

✗ You shouldn't to spend so much money.

✗ He shouldn't spends so much money.

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© Luke Donovan | Game of English | CC BY-SA 4.0

GZ12.05C - Ought To - Advice

[P] = Person/subject

[A] = Action (base verb)

Use ought to to say what you think is the right or sensible thing to do.

[P] + ought to + base verb

You ought to get more sleep.

Ought to is similar in meaning to should. Unlike should, it includes to before the base verb. It can sound slightly more formal.

✓ You ought to get more sleep.

✗ You ought get more sleep.

✗ She ought to gets more sleep.

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© Luke Donovan | Game of English | CC BY-SA 4.0

GZ12.05D - Ought Not To - Negative Advice

[P] = Person/subject

[A] = Action (base verb)

Use ought not to to advise someone against an action.

[P] + ought not to + base verb

You ought not to drive when you're tired.

Ought not to is grammatically correct but less common in everyday speech than shouldn’t. Keep to after not, then use the base verb.

✓ You ought not to drive when you're tired.

✗ You ought not drive when you're tired.

✗ He ought not to drives when tired.

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© Luke Donovan | Game of English | CC BY-SA 4.0

GZ12.05E - Must - Strong Advice

[P] = Person/subject

[A] = Action (base verb)

Use must to give very strong, enthusiastic advice.

[P] + must + base verb

You must visit Edinburgh when you're in Scotland.

Here must expresses a strong personal recommendation, not an obligation. The context and tone make the meaning clear. Use the base verb without to.

✓ You must visit Edinburgh when you're in Scotland.

✗ You must to visit Edinburgh.

✗ She must visits Edinburgh.

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