11

Advice: Should, Shouldn’t,

Ought to, Had Better, and
Had Better Not

Advice for Travelers

Focus on Grammar 2
Part XI, Unit 38
By Ruth Luman, Gabriele Steiner, and BJ Wells
Copyright © 2006. Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.
You Should Finish Packing !
You You
ought
I think you
shouldn’t
to bring
should a
take
forget
Spanish
some your
warm What should I
dictionary.
passport.
sweaters. pack for my trip
to Peru?
 Should
Use should to give advice or talk about what
is right to do.

You should obey

the traffic laws of
this city.
 Form
Should is followed by the base form of the
verb.

Base Form
Verb

He should to get a better map.

He should get a better map.
He should gets a better map.
 Negative

Use should not for the negative.

You should not

bring so many
suitcases.
 Contraction
Use the contraction shouldn’t in speaking
and informal writing.

You shouldn’t
get lost.
 Present and Future
We use should to talk about the present or
future.
Present

I should put on some

sunscreen right now.
Future

We should take another

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

Example: 1.

He should see
a doctor.

2. 3.
 Ought to

Ought to means the same as should.

I ought to
get some
insect
repellent.
 Usage Note 1
Ought to is not usually used in questions or
negative statements.

Should
Ought I open
I to open
the window?
 Usage Note 2

To sound more polite, use I think or Maybe

before saying “you should” or “you ought to.”

Maybe you I think you

should should buy
leave me cheaper airline
alone. tickets .
Had 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.
 Use should, shouldn’t, and ought to
with I think and maybe to give advice
Practice 2 about visiting your country. Use the
topics below.

Example: Food I think you

ought to try the
spiced lamb.
1. Clothing

2. Transportation

3. Language

4. Shopping

5. Places to Visit

6. Cultural Customs
 References

Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education and

its licensors. All rights reserved.