1. Advice: Should, Shouldn’t, Ought to, Had Better, and Had Better Not11
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 © Pearson Education, Inc. All rights reserved.

2. You Should Finish Packing !
I think you should take some warm sweaters.
You shouldn’t forget your passport.
You ought to bring a Spanish dictionary.
What should I pack for my trip to Peru?

3. You should obey the traffic laws of this city.
Use should to give advice or talk about what is right to do.
You should obey the traffic laws of this city.

4. Form He should to get a better map. He should get a better map.
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.

5. You should not bring so many suitcases.
Negative
Use should not for the negative.
You should not bring so many suitcases.

6. Contraction
Use the contraction shouldn’t in speaking and informal writing.
You shouldn’t get lost.

7. Present and Future We use should to talk about the present or future.
I should put on some sunscreen right now.
Future
We should take another tour tomorrow.

8. Use should or shouldn’t + the base form verb to give advice for each situation.
Practice 1
Example: 1. 2. 3.
He should see a doctor.

9. I ought to get some insect repellent.
Ought to means the same as should.
I ought to get some insect repellent.

10. Ought I to open the window?
Usage Note 1
Ought to is not usually used in questions or negative statements.
Ought I to open the window?
Should I open

11. Usage Note 2
To sound more polite, use I think or Maybe before saying “you should” or “you ought to.”
Maybe you should leave me alone.
I think you should buy cheaper airline tickets .

12. 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.

13. I think you ought to try the spiced lamb.
Use should, shouldn’t, and ought to with I think and maybe to give advice about visiting your country. Use the topics below.
Practice 2
I think you ought to try the spiced lamb.
Example: Food
Clothing
Transportation
Language
Shopping
Places to Visit
Cultural Customs

14. References
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