Virtuous English Academy
Should, Shouldn't and Shall: Advice (A2)
- #A2
- #Grammar
- #Rules
- #Examples
Should and shouldn't give advice about the right thing to do, while shall makes offers and suggestions. This lesson shows how to use them to recommend and suggest politely.
Should is the standard way to give advice in English. It sits between a suggestion and an obligation: stronger than you could, much weaker than you must. You should see a doctor is genuine advice, offered as an opinion rather than an instruction, which is exactly why it is so widely usable.
Like every modal verb, should never changes form. There is no -s in the third person, no do or does in questions and negatives, and the verb after it is always the bare infinitive. She should go, not She should to go or She shoulds go.
Should also expresses expectation — what you think is probably true or likely to happen. The train should arrive at six means you expect it to, based on the timetable. This second meaning is common and worth recognising, because the same word carries quite a different sense.
How to form Advice: Should and Shouldn't
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | subject + should + base verb | You should rest. |
| Negative | subject + shouldn't + base verb | You shouldn't worry. |
| Question | should + subject + base verb | Should I call her? |
| Short answer | Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn't. | Should I apply? — Yes, you should. |
| Suggestion (we) | Shall we + base verb | Shall we take a break? |
| Past regret | should have + past participle | I should have left earlier. |
Advice: Should and Shouldn't: the key rules
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Should + base verb gives advice and opinions about the right thing to do.
You should see a doctor about that cough.
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Shouldn't advises against something.
You shouldn't skip breakfast.
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Should I/we…? asks for advice; Shall I/we…? offers or suggests.
Should I apologise? Shall we take a break?
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Soften advice with I think / maybe.
I think you should talk to her first.
When to use Advice: Should and Shouldn't
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Giving advice
The main use — telling someone what you think is the right thing to do.
You should apply for that job. You shouldn't leave it until the last minute.
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Asking for advice
Questions with should are how you invite someone's opinion.
What should I do? Should I say something to her?
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Expressing expectation
Saying what you think is probably true or likely.
They should be here by now. It shouldn't take long.
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Making suggestions with shall
Shall we is the standard way to propose doing something together in British English.
Shall we meet at seven? Shall I open the window?
should vs. must
Both point towards doing something, but the strength is completely different, and using the wrong one changes how you sound.
should — advice, your opinion
A recommendation the listener is free to reject. Polite and normal between equals.
You should take a break. You shouldn't work so hard.
must / have to — obligation, no choice
A rule or requirement. Sounds forceful if used where advice was intended.
You must wear a helmet. You have to show your ID.
Advice: Should and Shouldn't in example sentences
- You should book the tickets early.Straightforward advice.
- He shouldn't drive when he's this tired.Negative advice — the speaker's opinion.
- Should I bring anything to the dinner?Asking for advice.
- The parcel should arrive tomorrow.Expectation rather than advice.
- You shouldn't have to pay for that.should combined with have to for what is fair.
- Shall we start the meeting?shall for a suggestion including the speaker.
- I should have called you back.should have + participle for past regret.
- What do you think I should say?Indirect question — no auxiliary after think.
Advice: Should and Shouldn't in a real conversation
Both meanings appear here — advice in most lines, and expectation near the end.
Ana:I've been offered a job in Vienna. What should I do?
Ben:You should think about it carefully. Is the salary better?
Ana:Slightly. But I shouldn't move just for money.
Ben:True. Shall we look at the cost of living together?
Ana:Good idea. They should send me the contract this week.
Ben:Then you shouldn't decide anything until you've read it.
Common mistakes (and how to fix them)
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You should to rest.
You should rest.
Modal + bare verb — the to never appears after should.
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He should works less.
He should work less.
After a modal the verb keeps its base form even with he/she/it.
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Do I should bring anything?
Should I bring anything?
Should makes questions by inversion, never with do.
Practise Advice: Should and Shouldn't today
Advice is easiest to practise on real problems rather than invented ones.
- Write advice for four problems: a friend is always tired, late, stressed and broke.
- Write four questions asking for advice about your own life.
- Rewrite four should sentences as must and describe how the tone changes.
- Write three sentences with should have about things you regret.
Advice: Should and Shouldn't: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between should and ought to?
Almost nothing in meaning — both give advice with the same strength. Ought to is slightly more formal and much less common, particularly in questions and negatives, where oughtn't sounds distinctly old-fashioned. Should is the safe default in every context. The one structural difference is that ought is followed by to plus the infinitive, unlike other modals.
How do I give advice about the past?
Use should have plus the past participle, which expresses regret or criticism about something that did not happen: I should have studied harder, You shouldn't have said that. In speech should have is almost always reduced to should've, which is why learners sometimes mishear it as should of — a spelling that is always an error.
Is should too weak for serious advice?
Not usually — should is the normal register for advice between equals and does not sound weak. If you genuinely need more force, you have options: You really should, I think you must, or the more direct You need to. Jumping straight to must for advice can sound bossy, which is why should remains the default even for quite important recommendations.
When do I use shall rather than should?
Shall is used almost exclusively in questions with I and we, to make offers and suggestions: Shall I help you? Shall we go? It is not an alternative to should and does not give advice. In British English these shall questions are completely standard; American English tends to prefer Should I help you? or Do you want me to help?