Should (Advice)
Use 'should' and 'shouldn't' to give advice, make recommendations, or say what is the right thing to do.
Level B1
Modals
Summary
- Use 'should' and 'shouldn't' to give advice, make recommendations, or say what is the right thing to do.
Structure
subject + should (not) + base verb
Examples
- You should see a doctor about that cough.
- We shouldn't waste so much food.
- Should I apply for the job?
- You should have told me earlier.
Common mistakes
- • Don't add 'to': NOT 'You should to rest' → 'You should rest.'
- • For past advice use 'should have + past participle': 'You should have called.'
More modals
Can / Could (Ability and Permission)
A2
Use 'can' for present ability and informal permission or requests. Use 'could' for past ability and for more polite requests.
Must / Have To (Obligation)
B1
Use 'must' and 'have to' to express obligation or necessity. 'Mustn't' means something is forbidden, while 'don't have to' means there is no obligation.
May / Might (Possibility)
B1
Use 'may' and 'might' to talk about present or future possibility. 'May' is also used for formal permission.
Would for Past Habits
B2
Use 'would' to talk about repeated past actions and habits, similar to 'used to'. Unlike 'used to', 'would' is not normally used for past states.
Would (Polite Requests and Hypotheticals)
B1
Use 'would' for polite requests and offers, for hypothetical results (especially in conditionals), and to describe imagined situations.