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Should and Should Not – How to Give Advice in English (A2)

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Should and Should Not – How to Give Advice in English (A2)

Exercises:

Choose should or should not to complete each sentence. (e.g., You look pale. You ___ see a doctor. → should)

EXAMPLE: People should not use their phones while driving. It is very dangerous.

You have an important exam tomorrow. You stay up until 2am playing video games.

A: I have a terrible headache. B: You take some painkillers and rest for a while.

A: I tell my manager about the mistake? B: Yes, definitely. Honesty is always best.

A: I have not spoken to my brother for two years. B: You really call him. Life is too short.

You eat so much processed food. It is bad for your health in the long term.

It is very cold outside. You wear a warm coat before you leave.

Students read their work again before handing it in. It helps to catch small mistakes.

You judge people before you know their story. Everyone has their reasons.

A: I feel very stressed at work lately. B: You talk to your manager about your workload. That might help.

10.

The museum is amazing. You really visit it while you are in the city. You will love it.

▸Answer key

Practice Questions & Answers

All A2 questions for “Should and Should Not – How to Give Advice in English (A2)”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Try the interactive exercises above, then check your answers here.

Exercise 1: Should or Should Not? – Fill in the Gap

1. People _____ use their phones while driving. It is very dangerous.
- A. should not ✓
- B. should
- C. do not have to
Answer: should not
Saying something is dangerous and a bad idea. Should not for strong advice against something.
2. You have an important exam tomorrow. You _____ stay up until 2am playing video games.
- A. should not ✓
- B. should
- C. must not
Answer: should not
Bad idea given the situation (exam tomorrow). Should not = this is not a good idea.

More A2 English Practice

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Exercise 2: Choose the Best Piece of Advice

1. Your friend wants to apply for a new job but is worried about her CV. What do you say?
- A. You should get some help writing your CV. ✓
- B. You should not apply for any jobs.
- C. You must write the CV alone.
- D. You should to ask for help.
Answer: You should get some help writing your CV.
Should + base verb (no to). Positive advice about a practical solution to her worry.
2. Your colleague keeps arriving late to meetings. What is the right advice?
- A. He should not be late to meetings. ✓
- B. He shoulds arrive on time.
- C. He should to arrive earlier.
- D. He doesn't should be late.
Answer: He should not be late to meetings.
Should not + base verb for negative advice. No -s on should, no to after should, no does in negatives.
3. A student is struggling with grammar. She asks you: 'What should I do?' What do you say?
- A. You should practise a little every day. ✓
- B. You should to study more.
- C. You shoulds practise every day.
- D. You don't should give up.
Answer: You should practise a little every day.
Should + base verb. Practical advice with no to, no -s, no do.
4. Your friend ate something bad and feels sick. What do you say?
- A. You should drink lots of water and rest. ✓
- B. You should not to drink water.
- C. You must to go to hospital immediately.
- D. You should drinking water.
Answer: You should drink lots of water and rest.
Should + base verb for straightforward health advice. No to, no -s, no -ing after should.
5. Your neighbour plays loud music every night until midnight. What advice would you give him?
- A. You should not play music so late at night. ✓
- B. You should not to play music.
- C. You shoulds be quiet at night.
- D. You don't should play music.
Answer: You should not play music so late at night.
Should not + base verb. No to after should not, no -s on should, no does.
6. Your friend wants to lose weight but hates the gym. What do you suggest?
- A. You should try swimming or cycling instead. ✓
- B. You should not to eat anything.
- C. You shoulds go to the gym.
- D. You should going for a walk.
Answer: You should try swimming or cycling instead.
Should + base verb (try, not trying). Constructive advice offering alternatives.
7. Which sentence is grammatically correct?
- A. Should I bring anything to the party? ✓
- B. Do I should bring anything?
- C. I should to bring something?
- D. Should I to bring anything?
Answer: Should I bring anything to the party?
Should + subject + base verb for questions. No do, no to, just Should + I + bring.
8. Your younger sister is spending all her money on clothes. What do you tell her?
- A. You should save some money each month. ✓
- B. You should to save your money.
- C. You must not spend money.
- D. You should not saving money.
Answer: You should save some money each month.
Should + base verb for financial advice. Positive should (not should not - the advice is to save, not to stop spending).
9. A tourist asks you about visiting your city in August. It is very hot. What do you say?
- A. You should bring light clothes and drink plenty of water. ✓
- B. You should not visit in August.
- C. You should to stay inside all day.
- D. You shoulds wear a coat.
Answer: You should bring light clothes and drink plenty of water.
Should + base verb for practical travel advice. Helpful and positive recommendation.
10. Your friend just had an argument with his boss by email. What do you tell him?
- A. You should not reply when you are still angry. ✓
- B. You should to wait before replying.
- C. You shouldn't to send any emails.
- D. You should not replying now.
Answer: You should not reply when you are still angry.
Should not + base verb (reply). No to, no -ing after should not.

Exercise 5: Speaking Practice – Give and Ask for Advice

1. You are a friendly English tutor doing a structured speaking drill with an A2 student. The grammar focus is: (1) should + base verb for positive advice, (2) should not + base verb for negative advice, (3) no -s on should for he/she/it, (4) no do/does in negatives or questions, (5) no to after should, (6) Should I / Should he / What should I...? for questions. STRUCTURE: Ask exactly 6 questions, one at a time. Wait for the student's full answer before asking the next one. QUESTIONS TO ASK (in this order): 1. 'Let us start with some advice! A friend tells you she is very stressed about her exams. What should she do? Give me at least two pieces of advice.' (Target: She should make a study plan. She should not study all night without sleeping. She should take short breaks. Check: should + base verb, no to, no -s on should.) 2. 'Good! Now your friend wants to be healthier. Give him three pieces of advice using should and should not.' (Target: He should exercise three times a week. He should not eat junk food every day. He should drink more water. Check form throughout.) 3. 'Now it is your turn to ask for advice. Imagine you have a problem - a difficult situation at work or at home. Tell me the problem, then ask me: What should I do?' (Target: I have a problem with my colleague. What should I do? Check: Should I...? or What should I...? with no do before should.) 4. 'I will describe a situation and you give advice using should or should not. Ready? A student never reads the instructions carefully before doing exercises. What should he do?' (Target: He should read the instructions carefully before starting. He should not rush. Check should + base verb for he - no shoulds.) 5. 'Think about a rule or piece of advice you think is important for everyone in the world. Tell me using should or should not.' (Target: People should be kind to each other. Everyone should learn at least one foreign language. People should not waste food. Check general advice using should.) 6. 'Last one! Give me advice for a tourist visiting your city or country for the first time. Use should and should not at least twice each.' (Target: You should visit... You should try... You should not forget to... You should not miss... Check should/should not + base verb consistently.) FEEDBACK RULES: - Never explain the grammar rule. Recast errors naturally. - If student says 'she shoulds': recast - 'She should rest more! Good advice.' - If student says 'should to go': recast - 'Yes, she should go to bed earlier! Great suggestion.' - If student says 'he doesn't should': recast - 'Right, he should not eat so much sugar! Well said.' - If student says 'Do I should': recast - 'Should I talk to my manager? That is a great question to ask!' - Keep your own language at A2 level. - After all 6 questions, give one genuine specific compliment and say goodbye.

Should and Should Not – How to Give Advice in English (A2)

Practice Questions & Answers

Exercise 1: Should or Should Not? – Fill in the Gap

More A2 English Practice

A Robot Waiter in a Café (A2 Reading)

Pack Your Bags: Planning the Perfect Holiday – A2 Reading Exercises

Exercise 2: Choose the Best Piece of Advice

Exercise 3: Advice for a New Life in a New City

Exercise 4: Build Advice Sentences with Should

Exercise 5: Speaking Practice – Give and Ask for Advice

Exercise 6: Writing Practice – Advice for a Friend

Pizza, Sushi and Tacos: The World on Your Plate – A2 Reading Exercises

Common Phrasal Verbs – Wake Up, Put On, Look For (A2)

Comparative and Superlative Adjectives – A2 English Grammar

Do vs Make – When to Use Each One (A2)