Useful Sentence Patterns Giving Advice
Giving Advice should /ought to had better Advise / recommend / suggest / warn / urge It is advisable / better … to … If I were …, I would …
Should / Ought to Subject + should (not) + verb (bare infinitive) Susan should drive carefully on a highway. Subject + ought + verb ( to-infinitive) Susan ought to drive carefully on a highway. Subject + ought not + verb (bare / to infinitive) Susan ought not to drive too fast. Susan ought not quarrel with her classmates again.
Had better Subject + had better + verb (bare infinitive) She had better explain these instructions clearly to her children. We do not use it talk about obligations in the past Always takes the form ‘had better’
Advise/Recommend/ Suggest/warn/urge (1) Pattern 1 Subject + verb + object + to-infinitive The doctor advised the patient to take a complete rest.
Advise/Recommend/ Suggest/warn/urge (2) Pattern 2 Subject + verb + object + preposition + noun Her father advised her against gambling.
Advise/Recommend/ Suggest/warn/urge (3) Pattern 3 Subject + verb + that-clause (should/bare inf) Johnson recommended that we should leave him alone.
Advise/Recommend/ Suggest/warn/urge (4) Subject + verb + noun / phrase / gerund The supervisor advised an early start. Anna suggested going home.
Advise/Recommend/ Suggest/warn/urge (5) Pattern Advise Recommend Suggest Urge warn 1 2 3 4
Advise/Recommend/ Suggest/warn/urge (6) Pattern Advise Recommend Suggest Urge warn 1 2 3 4
It is advisable / better … to It is + adjective + (for someone ) + to inf. It is advisable for youngsters not to take soft drugs. It is better for us to have a break after studying for a long time.
If I were …, I would … If I were … + would/should + bare inf. If I were you, I would drink less water. ‘Were’ used for all persons
One’s advice / recommendation One’s advice / recommendation + verb-to-be + to-infinitive My advice would be to take that summer course. My recommendation is to finish S5 before you study overseas.