UNIVERSITY OF CARTAGENA

FINANCIAL ENGLISH II
01 ENGLISH VII. SEVENTH SEMESTER 1
PLACE PIEDRA DE BOLIVAR DATE ____/____/20___

SOCIAL MODALS: SUGGESTION, ADVICE, WARNINGS, INSTRUCTIONS

1. The modals could and might are used to make suggestions; should and ought to are used for advice; had better is
used to give warnings; have to, have got to, and must are used for strong advice; should and must are also used for
explaining instructions:

Suggestions: you could call the doctor.

you might call the doctor.
Advice: you should call the doctor.
you ought to call the doctor.
Warnings: you had better call the doctor or you´ll get pneumonia.
Strong advice: you have to call the doctor.
you have got to call the doctor.
you must call the doctor.
Instructions: you should Take one tablet after each meal. You must not exceed the recommended dosage.

2. The modals you choose will affect the strength and meaning of what you say:

You should call the doctor.

You must call the doctor.

Weaker could, might

should, ought to
had better
have to, have got to
Stronger must

3. Could is used for making casual suggestions, especially when there is a choice:

Miguel: My back still hurt. What should I do?

John: You could call the doctor now, or you could wait until tomorrow.

4. Might is also used for making casual or tentative suggestions:

Karen: I don´t know what to do about my car. I´m having a lot trouble with it.
Sonya: You might ask Kelly about her mechanic. I think she just found a good one.

5. The modal shall is rare in America English. It is especially used in questions with I or we to make suggestions and at
the same time to ask if the suggestion is OK:

Shall I turn on the radio? (Is that OK with you)

Shall We leave early? (Is that OK with you)

1 Repositorio unit two.

 UNIVERSITY OF CARTAGENA
FINANCIAL ENGLISH II
01 ENGLISH VII. SEVENTH SEMESTER 1
PLACE PIEDRA DE BOLIVAR DATE ____/____/20___

6. Should and ought to make advice sound stronger, should is much more common than ought to. Should can be used
in questions and negative statements, but ought to cannot:

Marcelo: What should I do? I feel awful.

Anna: You ought to call the doctor. You shouldn´t go to work.

7. Had better is stronger than should and ought to. It is used to give warnings and to mention bad consequences. These
consequences are often stated in clauses beginning with or. Had better is used in affirmative and negative statements
and in negative questions:

Enilsa: I´ve been sick for two weeks.

Elvira: You had better go the doctor, or your cold will get much worse.

8. Have better and have got to are used advice:

Ivan: Where should I take my parents tonight?

Tatiana: You have to take them to that new Thai restaurant. OR
You have got to take them to that new Thai restaurant.

9. Must is the strongest modal for advice and is used for emphasis when the advice is certain or when the situation is
serious.

Arturo: Where should I take my parents tonight?

Dennis: You must take them to that new Thai restaurant. They´ll love it.

Alexa: I´ve been sick for two weeks.

Dina: You must see the doctor. Your cough sounds very bad.

CONVERSATIONS NOTES

1. In informal conversations, ought to is often pronounced oughtta, have to is often pronounced, hafta, has to is
pronounced hasta, and have got to is frequently pronounced gotta.

Written form Spoken form

You ought to go to the doctor. You oughtta go to the doctor.

You have to go to the doctor. You hafta go to the doctor.
He has to go to the doctor. He hasta go to the doctor.
You have got to go to the doctor. You gotta go to the doctor.

2 Repositorio unit two.

 UNIVERSITY OF CARTAGENA
FINANCIAL ENGLISH II
01 ENGLISH VII. SEVENTH SEMESTER 1
PLACE PIEDRA DE BOLIVAR DATE ____/____/20___

2. Had better is often contracted to ´d better in conversation and informal writing. In negative statements, not is not
contracted.

Statements: You ´d better call the doctor.

Negative Statements: You ´d better not go to work.
Negative Questions: Hadn´t you better call the doctor?

3. In very informal conversation you will sometimes hear only better or better not. The contracted form of had is
dropped completely.

“You better call the doctor” (SPOKEN ONLY)

You better not wait any longer. (SPOKEN ONLY)

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