I'd better go home soon. I have a lot of homework to do.
Advice
Should
When we want to say that something is the right thing to do, we use should. It is commonly used to give advice or opinions:
I'm hungry. I should eat something.
You shouldn't go out without a coat. It's pretty cold.
Should we invite Jack to the party?
Should is not as strong as must, have to, or have got to:
- You should help. (It is a good idea / the right thing to do.)
- You must / have to / have got to help. (It is very important / necessary that you help.)
Ought To
Although not as popular, ought to can also be used to express advice and opinions. It has the same meaning as should:
- James should study harder.
- James ought to study harder.
- You should look for a new hobby.
- You ought to look for a new hobby.
The use of ought to in negative sentences and questions is very rare in North American English.
In spoken English, native speakers often pronounce ought to as "otta":
I had a big lunch. I ought to have just a salad for dinner.
If you want to get a good seat, we ought to get there early.
Had Better
For a stronger meaning than should and ought to, English speakers use had better ('d better):
You'd better take an umbrella today. It looks like it's going to rain.
I'd better charge my phone before we go out.
He'd better not spend too much money today. He's going to need some this weekend.
Had better is used only when talking about specific situations. It means there will be a danger or problem if the advice is not followed:
- It's cold outside. You should / ought to wear a coat.
- (It's a good idea to wear a coat.)
- It's cold outside. You'd better wear a coat.
- (If you don't wear a coat, you might be really cold.)
- I should hurry.
- (It's a good idea for me to hurry.)
- I'd better hurry.
- (If I don't hurry, something bad will happen.)
Often, in spoken English only, people just say "better" without "had" or "d":
He (had) better call me soon.
You (had) better not do that.
Had better is not common in question forms.
Should Have + Past Participle
I should have done that. = I didn't do it. I made a mistake.
I shouldn't have done that. = I did it. I made a mistake.
- I'm so hungry. I really should have eaten breakfast this morning.
- You shouldn't have said that. Now she's crying.
- This computer is garbage. I really shouldn't have bought it.
Should have is often pronounced "shoulda" or "should've" by native English speakers. Shouldn't have is often reduced to "shouldna" or "shouldn've":
1. I should have studied last night.
"shoulda"
"should've"
2. I'm cold. I should have brought a sweater.
"shoulda"
"should've"
3. I shouldn't have eaten so much food for lunch. I'm full.
"shouldna"
"shouldn've"
4. You shouldn't have missed class.
"shouldna"
"shouldn've"
It is also possible to describe the past with ought (not) to have + past participle, but it is more common to use should.
Suggestions
Let's & Why Don't
To make suggestions, English speakers often use let's (let us) / let's not... and why don't...:
- Let's get a coffee.
- Let's go shopping.
- Let's not do anything tonight. I'm tired.
- Why don't we go see a movie?
- Why don't we eat out tonight?
- Why don't you ask the teacher for help?
- Why don't I call you when I'm finished?
Shall
The modal verb, shall can be used in questions with I or we to make or ask for suggestions:
- Shall I help you with your bags?
- Shall we have spaghetti for dinner tonight?
- Shall we leave soon?
- What shall we do this weekend?
- What shall we do about the problem?
Could & Should
We use could to make suggestions or discuss possibilities:
- What shall we do tomorrow?
- Why don't we go to the beach?
- Let's go to the beach.
- Shall we go to the beach?
- We could go to the beach.
- What should we do for James' birthday?
- Why don't we have a surprise party?
- Let's have a surprise party.
- Shall we have a surprise party?
- We could have a surprise party.
Should can be used for suggestions but has a much stronger meaning:
- What shall we do tomorrow?
- We could go to the beach.
(This is just a suggestion / one idea.) - We should go to the beach.
(I think this is the right thing to do.)
- We could go to the beach.
- What should we do for James' birthday?
- We could have a surprise party.
(This is just a suggestion / one idea.) - We should have a surprise party.
(I think this is the right thing to do.)
- We could have a surprise party.
Exercise
Open the exercise to begin the activity. Follow the instructions in the document.