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Modal Verbs: Should for Giving Advice

Learn how to use the modal verb should to give advice, suggestions, and recommendations in English.

What Does Should Mean?

The modal verb should is used to give advice, suggest actions, or recommend something. It expresses what is considered the right or best thing to do.

Why Is This Important?

Using should correctly helps you provide polite recommendations and advice in daily conversations and professional settings.

Key Points

  • Use should to give advice or make recommendations
    • You should eat more vegetables.
    • He should see a doctor about his headache.
  • Use should for expectations
    • The train should arrive on time.
    • She should be home by now.
  • Use should not (shouldn’t) to express negative advice
    • You shouldn’t eat too much fast food.
    • He shouldn’t spend so much time on his phone.

Rules for Using Should

  • Use should to suggest something as the right thing to do.

    • You should apologize if you made a mistake.
    • She should take an umbrella—it might rain.

  • Use should not (shouldn’t) to warn against something.

    • You shouldn’t drive too fast.
    • They shouldn’t stay up too late.

  • Use should when making polite suggestions.

    • We should meet for coffee sometime.
    • You should try this new restaurant.
ExampleModalUse
You should study more.ShouldAdvice
She should see a doctor.ShouldRecommendation
They should leave early to avoid traffic.ShouldSuggestion
You shouldn’t eat too much sugar.Should notNegative advice

Disclaimer: I am not affiliated with the creators of these videos. These are publicly available resources used to provide additional information on the topic.