INTERMEDIATE

UNIT 3: You Could Ask for Advice

Objectives:
At the end of this unit, students will be able to ask
for and give advice in a conversation using different
grammar structures.
 GIVING ADVICE
FORMS
SHOULD Second Conditional
Affirmative Affirmative
Subject Should Base Form complement If I were you, I+would Base Form complement
You should make a decision. If I were you, I’d be more careful.
She should study for the exam. If I were you, I’d go to the doctor.
 
Negative Negative
Subject Should+Not Base Form complement If I were you, I+wouldn’t Base Form complement
You shouldn’t smoke so much. If I were you, I wouldn’t skip a class.
She shouldn’t waste her time. If I were you, I wouldn’t eat junk food.
 
Interrogative
Interrogative
Wh-Q Should Subject Base form complement
If you were me, Wh-Q would+you B.F. complement
  Should he go to the doctor?
If you were me,   - - would you go there?
What should I do now?
If you were me, what would you do ?
FORMS
COULD
Affirmative TRY
Subject Could Base Form Complement
You could ask for advice. Lexical Chunk Try Gerund Complement
He could talk to the teacher.
 
Interrogative I think you should try asking for help.
Wh-Q Could Subject Base form
What could I do? Maybe you could try opening the windows.
Where could we go?
Why don’t you try using a dictionary?
Why don’t you . . . ?
If I were you, I’d try speaking English in class.
Why don’t you Verb Complement
Why don’t you ask for help? Have you tried talking to your parents?
Why don’t you talk to your parents?
FUNCTIONS

1. Use modals Should & Could when you need to ask someone for advice.
Examples:
 What should I do?
 What could we do to solve the problem?
 How should he proceed with this case?
 Where could I ask for help?

2. Use should and shouldn't to give advice or to talk about what we think is right or wrong.
Examples:
 You look tired. I think you should take a few days off. [You should means something like I think
it is a good idea for you to do it.]
 I’m sure you did it well. You shouldn't worry much. [You shouldn't means something like I
think it is a bad idea for you to do it.]
 I don't think you should go out so much. [Should is used to express the opinion of a speaker
and often follows I think or I don't think.]
FUNCTIONS
3. Could is more polite and not as strong as should when giving advice. It is a good choice for offering
ideas to someone else who will be the decision maker, especially to someone of higher rank (a boss)
in the decision-making process.
Examples:
 Perhaps we could wait a few minutes to see if the power comes back.
 Or we could go outside and work.
 We could take our lunch breaks earlier. Perhaps, the power will be back in 30 minutes.
 You could call the electricity company and complain.

4. Why don’t you . . .? can also be used to make a suggestion or give advice. The speaker does not
expect a reason, he/she is just giving advice.
Example:
A: I yelled at my sister in public. I really feel bad.
B: Why don't you tell her you’re sorry?
A: Good idea. Thanks.
FUNCTIONS
5. If I were you, I’d . . . is another way of giving advice or a suggestion. It means you imagine
yourself in the position or situation of the other person and express what you would do to solve it.
Examples:
 If I were you, I would study more.
 If I were you, I’d pay more attention in class.
 If I were you, I wouldn’t speak Spanish in the English class.
You can also change the order of the sentence, putting the if-clause at the end of the sentence:
 I would be more careful if I were you.
 I wouldn't do that if I were you.

6. Another way of giving advice or a suggestion is by using the verb try + gerund. It means that if
you follow the advice, maybe you will get the desired result.
Examples:
 Have you tried explaining your side of the story?
 Why don’t you try talking to the teacher?
 You could try apologizing to her.
 If I were you, I’d try studying harder.
Exercise 1

Use the following ideas to give advice. Use three different forms of giving advice:

1. you/take a map a) …………………………………………………………..……………

b) ………………………………………..……… c) …………………………………………………………………
2. We/stay together a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) …………………………………………..……… c) ……………………………………………………………..….
3. You/forget to take an umbrella a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) ………………………………………..……… c) …………………………………………………………………
4. I/be careful a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) ………………………………………..……… c) …………………………………………………………………
5. They/ask for directions a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) ………………………………………..……… c) …………………………………………………………………
6. She/get angry a) …………………………………………………………………………
b) ………………………………………..……… c) …………………………………………………………………
7. We/spend all our money a) ……………………………………………………………………..…
b) …………………………………………..….. c) …………………………………………………………………
Exercise 2

Complete the conversations using different ways of giving advice. Add any necessary words.
1. A: I sent my résumé in for a job a few weeks ago, but I haven’t had any response.
B: ……………………………………………………. (have/try/call) the company?
2. A: I have an interview next week, and I’m worried about getting there on time. Traffic is so bad.
B: …………………………………………………..………………. (if/schedule) the interview for the middle of the day,
when traffic isn’t as bad.
3. A: I can’t find a job in my field. I really need some work, any work!
B: ……………………………………………………. (could/try/look) for temporary work. That’s often easier to find.
4. A: I have an interview tomorrow, but I don’t know a lot about the company.
B: ……………………………………………………. (why/do) some research online? I’ll help you.
 Exercise 3

Complete the conversations using different ways of giving advice. Add any necessary words.
1. A: I’m nervous about my interview on Monday. I don’t know what they’ll ask me.
B: ……………………………………………………… (why/practice) together. I can ask you questions.
2. A: I’m going to dress casually for my interview tomorrow. It’s a very informal company.
B: ……………………………………………………… (if/not/dress) too casually. It’s still a job interview.
3. A: I have to drive to my interview tomorrow, and I always get lost when I drive.
B: ……………………………………………………… (could/try/print) out directions or using a GPS.
4. A: My interview went quite well and I’m really interested in the job.
B: ……………………………………………………… (why/follow up) with a thank-you note? It’s always a nice gesture.
Exercise 4

……………………………………………………………………………
.

……………………………………………………………………………
.
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
.

……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
….
Exercise 5
Complete the conversations using your own ideas for giving advice. Use different forms of giving advice.

1. A: I have to give a speech in English, but I’m really nervous.

B: ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. A: I hate playing the flute, but my parents have already paid for all my lessons.
B: ………..………………………………………………………………….…………………………………….?

3. A: My friend wants to be a singer, but I think she’s terrible at singing.

B: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

4. A: My math grades aren’t very good. What should I do?

B: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..?

5. A: My friend always borrows my things without asking me first. What could I do?
B: …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
PAIRWORK
Read about Alex. He has a job interview in a few days. With a partner, discuss six suggestions for him using six
different forms of giving advice. Ask your partner to give a reason for his/her option. Then report it to the class.
For example:
A: Alex’s suit is very old. So, what would you do if you were him?
B: If I were him, I’d rent a good suit for that occasion.
A: Why is that?
B: Because you should be well-dressed for a job interview. What about the second problem?
 WRITING

Read Alex’s problems again. Then write a composition about what you would do if you
were in those situations. Explain why they are the best things to do in that situation. Give
other suggestions on what to do before, during and after a job interview. Also say what
will possibly happen if you don’t follow those recommendations. Use different forms of
giving advice (150-200 words).
COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITY
Student A asks different students B about what they would recommend in each of the following modern-day
situations. Ask your partner to give a reason for each suggestion. Use different forms for giving suggestions. Finally,
swap roles: Student B asks for advice and student A gives advice. For example:
A: What should I do with my mobile phone in class?
B: If I were you, I wouldn’t let myself get distracted with it in class. Because you should pay attention and
participate in class.
A: That’s a good point. What about this one? What should I do when getting around in the city?
B: Perhaps you could . . .
COMMUNICATIVE ACTIVITY
Instructions
After a bit of controlled practice and making sure your students know the form and functions of the
different ways of giving advice, give students the instructions for this activity.
The students are divided into two groups (A and B) and each student is given a corresponding worksheet.
Each student has to walk around the classroom and ask 8 different students of the other group (A or B) to
give a suggestion about the modern-day situations on their worksheet. Each student should ask their
partner to give a reason for each suggestion. They have to use different forms for giving suggestion.
Finally, students swap roles: Student B asks for advice and student A gives advice. For example:
A: What should I do with my mobile phone in class?
B: If I were you, I wouldn’t let myself get distracted with it in class. Because you should pay attention
and participate in class.
A: That’s a good point. What about this one? What should I do when getting around in the city?
B: Perhaps you could . . .

When they have completed their charts, they choose the best piece of advice for each situation and say
why they consider it to be the best.