by Liz Walter
We all have times when we want to give advice to someone or to make a suggestion about something they could do to solve a problem. However, it’s not always easy to do that without giving offence, so this post looks at a range of language you could use in this situation.
The most obvious words to use for giving advice are the modal verbs should and ought to:
You ought to eat more vegetables.
You shouldn’t be so rude to your parents.
Note that although we commonly use the negative form shouldn’t, it’s very rare and formal to use the negative form of ought to.
We also use need to in the same way:
You need to get some sleep.
Words like should, ought to and need to are very definite. They show that you are very sure of your advice. The problem with that is that they can be annoying to the person you are talking to because they can make you sound rather bossy. You could soften your advice by adding a word like perhaps or maybe at the beginning:
Maybe you should call her.
You could also use the modal verb could, which makes the sentence sound more like a suggestion rather than a piece of strict advice. Again, you could add a word like perhaps to make it even less bossy:
Perhaps you could get a part-time job.
Another common way of giving advice is to start a sentence with If I were you, I’d … :
If I were you, I’d insist on a pay rise.
Just in case you’re wondering, the reason we say ‘I were’ here, rather than the usual ‘I was’ is because it’s a subjunctive – but you don’t need to worry about that, just learn the phrase!
Another phrase worth learning for advice is you’d better (not):
You’d better take a torch.
However, it’s important to note that – depending on context and the tone of voice – this phrase can sound quite threatening:
You’d better not try to trick me!
Of course, there are lots of other possible ways of giving advice. Here is a selection:
It might be an idea / a good idea to reserve a seat.
Have you thought about/tried/considered changing to a different course?
Why don’t you / Why not leave it until another day?
I’d suggest / recommend cooking it in the oven.
I’d advise you / My advice is to leave the city immediately. (formal)
Do feel free to contribute any other useful phrases for advice in the comments below!
For more general information about modal verbs, see my post from last November.
Good post!
Good Post!
i really do enjoy while readin’ your blogs and it has already been an irreplaceable source on improvement of my English
Maybe you could focus on your grammar as well as spelling – that would be my advice; it’s just a suggestion.
Sorry, I couldn’t resist :), your English is fine.
Thank you, Liz.
si tienes que disculpar al profesol por ruidos en el fuente
A mi me conta buscar en el diccionarios porque hay cosas , hay palablas no encuentres fácil . Yo estoy Feliz porque puedo buscar cuaquiel cosas necesitar me.
Firstly, I’d like to thank you for such nice and informative blogs. They’re really very enjoyable and knowledgable.
Secondly, I’d like to share with you that I’m new to this portal. But now I’m reading your blogs quite regularly.
And finally, I’d like to request you to please post your blogs more often. I’d like to tell you that after reading the last blog posted by you, I start waiting for the next one to come . I’ve improved my English a lot with your blogs that’s what I think.
That’s very kind! I hope you are also reading the blogs by my colleague Kate Woodford, which I’m sure you would also find useful, and then you would have one every week!
I don’t know if i should be proud or not, but I learned nothing. I already knew all of this!
THANK YOU. I’M BEGINNER YET AND I WISH I WERE BETTER WITH MY ENGLISH. IT WAS RATHER USEFUL.
Nice.
Am I right to say, ‘I should think you go home.’ instead of saying, ‘I think you should go home.’?
No, that wouldn’t be correct.
Never give ORDERS. to A Mother or Father It can be very Hurtful to a Love One. I have noticed it Very Much Lately.
I would suggest reading this post over the span of the month for the most benefit of it. For me, I do
Grammar like a Boss
Good post ..
I really like your way of giving examples to deliver ideas to learnerns.
Thank you.
perfect post
I invariably find these posts hugely instructive and entertaining. Can you use the structure – How/What about trying this recipe? as a way of making suggestions?
Yes, good suggestion!
Good morning! Awesome to read this morning as I was “nervous” child and parent of three children with anxiety issues.
Thank you Liz for this blogs, I’m new here and i find it very interesting and helpul for english. Kindly please post more blogs.Thank you and god speed.
Good post
Hi Liz, can the clause “Íf I were you” be omitted and the listener still understands it is an advice for him or her? Thanks a lot!
Yes, but ‘If I were you’ softens it a bit – without it, the suggestion sounds a bit like a command.
On Wed, Sep 13, 2017, 7:02 AM About Words – Cambridge Dictionaries Online blog Liz Walter posted: ” by Liz Walter We all have times when we want to give > advice to someone or to make a suggestion about something they could do to > solve a problem. However, it’s not always easy to do that without giving > offence, so this post looks at a range of langu” >