# Definition

Giving Advice is any kind of suggestion regarding a possible course of action for another
person.
There are lots of different ways to give advice in English.
We are going to look at three:

1. Imperatives
An imperative is a command or an order. To form an imperative, you use the bare infinitive form
of the verb without a subject it should be clear to the person you are speaking to that the
imperative is about them.
For example:
- Wear warm clothes when you visit the UK.
- Dont be afraid to talk to people.

2. Using modal verbs

There are three useful words/phrases we use to give advice. These are called modals.
If you think something is a good idea, you can use the word: should
If you think something is a bad idea, you can use the word: shouldnt
For example:
- You should eat fruit and vegetables every day to stay healthy.
- You shouldnt eat too much spicy food.

3. Why dont you. .

Another way to give advice is to use the question form why dont you? This is a nice way of
making a suggestion if you are not sure about the advice, you can use this form.
For example:
- Why dont you take an English course before you go to the UK?
- Why dont you give her a chocholate?

There are several different structures that you can use when giving advice :

# Should
This is probably the most common of the structures for giving advice. After should, and its
negative - shouldn't - we use the base form of the infinitive of the verb:

You should wise up

We shouldnt cheat
It is common to use 'I think' and 'I dont think' with should:
I think you should put the answers back
She doesn't think they should use them

# Had better
This structure is common in spoken English and it is usually used in the contracted form. After
had better, and its negative - had better not, we use the base form of the infinitive of the verb

-You'd better return the answers to the lecturer

-You'd better not tell anyone that you found them

# Ought
This is the most formal of the structures used for giving advice, and so it isn't so common.
After ought, and its negative - ought not (oughtn't), we use the full infinitive of the verb:

- You ought to contact the police

- You ought not to cheat in exams

# If I were you
This version of the second conditional is often used when giving advice, especially in spoken
English. Note the use of were with I in the first clause.
In the second clause, we use would - contracted to d - and wouldnt.

After would and wouldnt, we use the base form of the infinitive of the verb:

If I were you, Id give them back to the lecturer

If I were you, I wouldnt use the answers

Example dialogue :
Mariona : Hi Cludia, You look worried. What's the matter?
Cludia : Er.. it's nothing.
Mariona : Is it the exam tomorrow? You shouldn't worry. You'll pass easily.
Cludia : I know.
Mariona : Come on, tell me. What are you worried about?
Cludia : OK... it's Mark. I think he has started smoking. I was talking to him yesterday about
this topic and he says me that isn't smoking.
Mariona : That's serious. What are you going to do?
Cludia : I'm not sure. I should tell someone. What do you think I should do?
Mariona : If I were you, I'd speak to his older sister. She's really friendly.
Cludia : I've never met her. Can you com with me?
Mariona : Yes, of course. Let's go and find her.

Example Picture :
You can use the following words and expressions in conversations to make suggestions and give advice
to people.

Suggestions
should

"You should try to practise English."

"You shouldn't translate too much."

Why don't you

"Why don't you join an English club?"

ought to

"You ought to read more."

If I were you, I'd

"If I were you, I'd watch more television."

*All these expressions are followed by a verb, without to. For example: "He should visit the Eiffel Tower."
(Not "heshould to visit the Eiffel Tower.")

For more information on using would, ought and should, see our page on modals.

suggest and recommend

Either use a verb + ing

"I suggest visiting the Eiffel Tower." (We should all go.)

OR use that + a verb without to

"I suggest that you visit the Eiffel Tower." (I'm not going.)

OR use a noun
"I recommend the lasagne." (It's a very good dish to choose in this restaurant.)

Advice
Remember the difference between the verb and the noun form of this word.

advise (verb)

"I advise you to buy a good dictionary." (The pronunciation is ad vaiz)

advice (noun)

"Can you give me some advice?" (The pronunciation is ad vais)

Advice is an uncountable noun. This means that we can't say an advice. Instead, we say some
advice or a piece of advice.

"Let me give you some advice."

"She gave me a very useful piece of advice: to buy a good dictionary."

Speaking tip
Many people don't like getting advice if they haven't asked for it! To avoid giving the wrong impression,
you can try some of these expressions:

"You could always"

"Have you considered"

"Perhaps we could"

"Do you think it's a good idea to"

"Have you thought about"

"In your position, I would"

"You should perhaps"

1. You ___ to leave as soon as you can.

ought
should
could
must

2. They ___ fix that broken traffic signal.

ought
have
try
must

3. You should start ___ for your future.

saving
saved
safe
save

4. How ___ sending them some flowers?

should
try
about
must

5. Try ___ your own lunch instead of buying it.

make
must
making
made

Percakapan Asking And Giving

Conversation 1

Tami : Hi Cludia, You look worried. What's the matter?

Aufa : Er.. it's nothing.
Tami : Is it the exam tomorrow? You shouldn't worry. You'll pass easily.
Aufa : I know. Tami : Come on, tell me. What are you worried about?
Aufa : OK... it's Mark. I think he has started smoking. I was talking to him
yesterday about this topic and he toldd me that he isn't smoking.
Tami : That's serious. What are you going to do?
Aufa: I'm not sure. I should tell someone. What do you think I should do?
Tami : If I were you, I'd speak to his older sister. She's really friendly.
Aufa : I've never met her. Can you come with me?
Tami : Yes, of course. Let's go and find her.

Conversation 2

Aufa : I have a serious problem today. I have just lost my wallet.

Tami : Don't be so sad my friend, let us search it around the park.

Aufa : I have looked for it for hours but I do not find it, do you have some ideas?

Tami : You had better tell the securities to announce it to other students.

Aufa : Yeah, that sounds good. I do hope it helps.

Tami : Lets go.. !

Conversation 3

Tami : Aufa.., Do you have any idea about which one shold I buy for him ?

Aufa : Mmmm.., I suggest you to buy something like a football teams fan
merchandise .. Because usually a boy loved football, right ?

Tami : Thats a good idea.. Lets search for it..!

Which one is better..? Red or Blue ?

Aufa : I think red should be better.., but its up to you.

Tami : Ill take the red one, then. Thank you .