ISI Swear EnglishLearn English Online

Modal Verbs - Lesson 209

Should for Advice

Lesson 209 - learn should for advice and expectation: how to form it, when to use it, clear examples and a short video from a British English teacher.

I Swear English › Modal Verbs › Should for Advice

How to form and use the should for advice

How should this be done? What should I wear to the party? Should I wear fancy dress?


We use should to ask for advice about what is expected, normal, or habitual particularly in unfamiliar situations or carrying out unfamiliar activities. We use this structure to ask advice from a person who has more experience than us. In this way we can use should to give instructions to another person. As a teacher I use should the whole time to tell students what type of vocabulary would be appropriate for the idea they are trying to communicate.

For example: What clothes should I pack for my holiday to Greece in January?
In the guide it says we should visit the National Opera House.
In situations like this you should use the first conditional.
Next you should heat the water in the pan until it boils vigorously.

The following video explains should for advice about what is expected or normal:

Watch the video lesson

Video transcript

Hi. Should. OK. We often use should to talk about what is normal, what is expected, or to ask about it. So, what should I buy for your sister's birthday. OK. I'm asking advice or I'm asking what is normal. Perhaps both things and this section deals with what is normal and asking for advice. What should I buy? What is expected for me to buy? Um... what should I buy her as a wedding present? What would be the right thing? OK. So, then I say, "You should buy er... one of theses. Or perhaps you should get a catalogue from here. Um... when I go to the Middle East, what clothes should I wear? What is normal? What is expected of me? OK. Um... so in this way it's a social obligation. Should. OK. Um... what should I do? What is expected? What should I pack for my holiday to Turkey? Ok? Should I take this? Or should I take that? What is expected? What would be normal? OK. Um... how should I go about doing this? What is the normal way of doing it? Or please give me advice. Yes. What should I do in this situation? Here is clearly advice, but notice with these shoulds um... we're asking for advice or what we recommend, or what is normal in this situation. Yes. So, it's not really an obligation, it's just telling people what you think. So, if you want to learn English, you should practice every day. OK. That is normal for good students and it's my advice. Um... you should read as much as you can. It's advice and it's normal as well in students that do well. So there you are. Should we use when we are talking about what is expected in society and when we're asking for advice. So there you go. Thanks a lot. See you in another video.

Keep learning

This lesson is part of our free English Modal Verbs course. Work through the series in order, or jump to the tense or structure you need next.

All modal verbs lessons →