MODEL VERBS

A - MODEL VERBS OF ADVICE & OBLIGATION:

Should/ must/ have to/ can/ could/ will/ would/ may/ might/ shall/ ought to… + infinitive

Present Positive Negative

have to / strong obligation (possibly from no obligation
don’t have to outside)
don't have = You don't need to do something,
but it's fine if you want to do it:
• Children have to go to school. I don’t have to work on Sundays.
(sometimes ‘have got to’) You don’t have to eat anything you don’t
like.
must / mustn’t strong obligation (possibly based on negative obligation
the speaker’s opinion) mustn’t = It's not allowed, or it's a bad idea.
• I must study today. You mustn’t smoke here.
should / shouldn’t mild obligation or advice mild negative obligation or advice
You should = I think it is a good idea You shouldn't = I think it is a bad idea for
for you to do it. you to do it.
• You should save some money. • You shouldn’t smoke so much.
• You look tired. I think you should • I have an English test tomorrow.
take a few days off. => I shouldn't worry if I were you. You
• Alice works very long hours. She have worked really hard.
should talk to her boss.

B - SOME USEFUL ADVICE STRUCTURES:

1) You should / shouldn’t + do sth
Ex: You look tired. You should go home and take a rest.
You shouldn’t work so hard.
2) You ought to / ought not to (oughtn’t to) + do sth
Ex: You ought to drink lots of water.
You oughtn't to eat fruit unless it’s peeled.
3) You had better (or ’d better) / had better not (or ’d better not) + do sth
Ex: It's getting dark. We’d better go back now.
You’d better not accept them.
4) You have to / You’ve got to / You don’t have to + do sth
Ex: It’s late. I think you’d better go to bed now. Remember you’ve got to get up early tomorrow.
5) You could / couldn’t + do sth
Ex: You could ask Peter if he wanted to come.
6) You can / can’t + do sth
Ex: You can ask Peter if he wants to come.
7) You might / may (want to) + do sth
Ex: You might (want to) try the cheesecake.
You may go now", "You might go now if you feel like it.
8) Have you considered + doing sth?
Ex: Have you considered moving to Hanoi (yet)?
9) Have you thought of + doing sth?
Ex: Have you thought of studying Chinese (yet)?
10) Have you tried + doing sth?
Ex: Have you tried phoning her home phone?
11) How about + doing sth?
Ex: How about going by bus to save money?
12) Why don’t you + do sth?
Ex: Why don’t you try this cake?
13) It’s a good / bad idea + to do sth
Ex: It’s a good idea to bring an umbrella in case it rains.
It’s a bad idea to go to Vung Tau at this time of year.
14) It’s wise / unwise+ to do sth
Ex: It’s wise / unwise to tell you mother about this problem.
15) It’s important (for somebody) + to do sth
Ex: It’s important for you to get up early tomorrow.
16) Don’t forget to + do sth
Ex: Don’t forget to give tips to the waiters.

NOTE:

Should and ought to have the same meaning.

Ex: You should (or ought to) call your friend to thank her.
You shouldn't (or oughtn't to) tell lies.
Had better (or 'd better) has also the same meaning, but it's stronger.
Ex: It's raining. You'd better take your umbrella.
I have a very important meeting at 8. I had better not be late.