Advice: Should and Shouldn't: A2 Exercises

Every answer with the reason behind it. Read the explanation for the ones you got right as well — that is where you find out whether you were right for the right reason.

Multiple choice questions — answers

1. You ___ see a doctor about that cough. → should

Should is a modal and takes the base form with no to.

2. He ___ eat so much sugar. → shouldn't

The negative is shouldn't, formed without do.

3. ___ I open the window? → Shall

Shall I is the standard way of offering to do something.

4. ___ we start the meeting now? → Shall

Shall we makes a suggestion to a group.

5. Which sentence is advice rather than an order? → You should apply today.

Should recommends; must and have to require.

6. She ___ tell him the truth, in my opinion. → should

Modals never take -s in the third person.

7. ___ I call you a taxi? → Shall

Shall I is the standard way of offering to do something for somebody.

8. You ___ drive when you're this tired. → shouldn't

Shouldn't gives negative advice.

9. Which means almost the same as should? → ought to

Ought to is a slightly more formal equivalent of should.

10. We ___ leave now or we'll miss the train. → had better

Had better gives urgent advice with a consequence implied.

11. ___ he apologise, do you think? → Should

Should questions are formed by inversion, with no auxiliary.

12. You ___ leave your bag there — somebody might take it. → shouldn't

The reason given makes this negative advice.

13. What ___ I wear to the interview? → should

Should asks for a recommendation.

14. Which sentence is correct? → She should study more.

The base form follows should, with no to and no ending.

15. They ___ have told us about the change earlier. → should

Should have plus a participle criticises a past action.

16. ___ we take an umbrella? It looks like rain. → Shall

Shall we suggests a joint course of action.

17. You ___ eat before a long swim. → shouldn't

This is standard negative advice about swimming.

18. He ___ to check the times before leaving. → ought

Ought is the only one of these that is followed by to.

19. Which is the strongest advice? → You'd better ask her.

Had better implies a bad consequence if the advice is ignored.

20. I ___ have eaten so much at lunch. → shouldn't

Shouldn't have plus a participle expresses regret.

Fill-in-the-blank questions — answers

1. You ___ take an umbrella — it's going to rain. → should

Should gives advice, followed by the base verb.

2. He ___ work so late every night. → shouldn't

Shouldn't gives negative advice.

3. ___ I make you a cup of tea? → Shall

Shall I offers to do something for somebody.

4. ___ we meet at the station instead? → Shall

Shall we makes a suggestion to a group.

5. She ___ apply for that job — she's perfect for it. → should

Should recommends a course of action.

6. You ___ to check the opening times first. → ought

Ought is followed by to, unlike should.

7. We had ___ leave now to avoid the traffic. → better

Had better gives urgent advice with a consequence implied.

8. What ___ I say to her? → should

Should asks for a recommendation.

9. You ___ leave valuables in the car. → shouldn't

This is standard negative advice about security.

10. ___ he tell his parents about the accident? → Should

A should question is formed by inversion.

11. They ___ have warned us about the roadworks. → should

Should have plus a participle criticises a past failure.

12. I ___ have said anything — it wasn't my business. → shouldn't

Shouldn't have plus a participle expresses regret.

13. You ___ drink more water in this heat. → should

Should gives health advice.

14. ___ I wait outside or come in? → Shall

Shall I asks for instructions about your own action.

15. She ___ worry so much about the exam. → shouldn't

Shouldn't advises against an unhelpful habit.

16. We ___ book a table if we want to eat there. → should

Should recommends a sensible precaution.

17. You had better ___ the doctor about that pain. → see

Had better is followed by the base form of the verb.

18. ___ we invite your brother as well? → Shall

Shall we suggests including somebody.

19. He ___ to spend more time with his family. → ought

Ought to is a slightly more formal equivalent of should.

20. Students ___ arrive late to the lecture. → shouldn't

Shouldn't states a soft rule of behaviour.

Sentence structure: word ordering — answers

1. Give health advice to a friend. → You should see a doctor about that.

Give health advice to a friend.

2. Criticise somebody's financial habits gently. → He shouldn't spend so much money.

Criticise somebody's financial habits gently.

3. Offer to do something for somebody. → Shall I open the window for you?

Offer to do something for somebody.

4. Suggest beginning to a group. → Shall we start the meeting now?

Suggest beginning to a group.

5. Recommend a job opportunity. → She should apply for that position.

Recommend a job opportunity.

6. Give advice using the form that takes to. → You ought to check the timetable first.

Give advice using the form that takes to.

7. Give urgent advice about departure. → We had better leave before seven.

Give urgent advice about departure.

8. Ask for a clothing recommendation. → What should I wear tomorrow?

Ask for a clothing recommendation.

9. Warn about a security risk. → You shouldn't leave your bike unlocked.

Warn about a security risk.

10. Ask for advice about a difficult decision. → Should we tell her the truth?

Ask for advice about a difficult decision.

11. Criticise a past failure to communicate. → They should have called us earlier.

Criticise a past failure to communicate.

12. Express regret about something you did. → I shouldn't have eaten that second cake.

Express regret about something you did.

13. Advise somebody in hot weather. → You should drink more water today.

Advise somebody in hot weather.

14. Offer transport to a departing guest. → Shall I call you a taxi?

Offer transport to a departing guest.

15. Reassure somebody before an announcement. → She shouldn't worry about the results.

Reassure somebody before an announcement.

16. Suggest a sensible precaution before an evening out. → We should book a table for Friday.

Suggest a sensible precaution before an evening out.

17. Give firm travel advice. → You had better take your passport.

Give firm travel advice.

18. Ask for advice about somebody else's behaviour. → Should he apologise to his colleague?

Ask for advice about somebody else's behaviour.

19. State a soft rule of behaviour. → Students shouldn't arrive late for lectures.

State a soft rule of behaviour.

20. Suggest adding people to a guest list. → Shall we invite the neighbours too?

Suggest adding people to a guest list.