SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS III

27/05/20
Page 1 of 3

The following modal auxiliary verbs are used to give advice.

MIGHT WEAK
COULD
SHOULD
MUST STRONG

MIGHT
Might // is used to offer suggestions. It is the weakest of the four modal
auxiliary verbs used to give advice. We use might to offer some options without
saying which option we think is best.

EXAMPLES:
Paula: If you want to improve your English speaking, you might go to more
workshops, you might attend intercambios, or you might take a private class.

Tomás: I don't know what to buy my girlfriend for her birthday. Any ideas?
Rosa: You might buy her some jewelry, or you might take her out for dinner.

MIGHT NOT is not used to give advice.

COULD
We use could // to give advice, but could is not very strong. Using could is the
same as making a suggestion. The speaker is only proposing a possible solution.

Comment Advice
Lorena: My car won't start. How am I going to get to work? Oscar: You could take a taxi.
Miguel: I'm really hot today. Luis: You could go swimming.

COULD NOT/COULDN'T are not used to give advice.

© 2014 Cuauhnáhuac Escuela C.I.C.L.C., S.C.

Cuernavaca, Morelos
 SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS III

27/05/20
Page 2 of 3

SHOULD
We use should // to say that we think something is a good idea for someone
in a particular situation.

EXAMPLES:
Comment Advice
I didn't do very well on the last exam. You should study more.
My teacher talks too fast. I can't understand her. You should talk to her.

We use should to demonstrate that something is a good idea. In the following

example Lorenzo is not obligated to follow the doctor's advice. He can stop
smoking or continue smoking cigarettes.

EXAMPLE:
Luisa: What did the doctor say?
Lorenzo: The doctor said that I should stop smoking.

ANOTHER EXAMPLE:
Zachary: I went and saw that movie, Gangs of New York, last week. You should
go and see it.

SHOULDN'T
We use shouldn't // to say that we think something is a bad idea.
Shouldn't is the negative form of should.

EXAMPLES:
Comment Advice
I have a sore throat and a bad cough. You shouldn't smoke so many cigarettes.
I overslept today and missed my English You shouldn't go to the discotheque on Thursday
class. nights anymore.

© 2014 Cuauhnáhuac Escuela C.I.C.L.C., S.C.

Cuernavaca, Morelos
 SENTENCES AND QUESTIONS III

27/05/20
Page 3 of 3

MUST
Must // is the strongest modal we can use to give advice. In the following
example, Arturo is obligated to take the doctor's advice and stop smoking. If he
doesn't follow the advice, he will be dead.

EXAMPLE:
Maria: What did the doctor say?
Arturo: The doctor said that I must stop smoking, or I will be dead within a year.

MUST NOT
Must not is stronger than shouldn't. In the following example Alberto and Romeo
are obligated to stop playing in the street.

EXAMPLE:
Mother: You must not play in the street. It is too dangerous.
Romeo and Alberto: Okay, mom. We won't play in the street anymore.

MORE EXAMPLES:

Comment
1. I've had a fever for two days, and I'm not
feeling any better.
2. I already missed one workshop this month.
Advice
You must see a doctor today.
You must not miss any more workshops, or
you will fail Sentences and Questions III.

In number 1 the person making the comment is obligated to see a doctor and get
his illness diagnosed. In number 2 the person is obligated to attend a workshop or
suffer the consequences.

MUST is the strongest modal we can use to give affirmative and negative advice.

© 2014 Cuauhnáhuac Escuela C.I.C.L.C., S.C.

Cuernavaca, Morelos