One morning, you receive an unusual message in your school inbox.
Subject: Student Support Team — Urgent Requests
Several students have asked for help. They are facing difficult decisions and are not sure what to do. Some students feel stressed before tests. Some find it hard to organise their time. Some are worried about making mistakes. They are looking for someone who can give clear and helpful advice.
Subject: Student Support Team — Urgent Requests
Several students have asked for help. They are facing difficult decisions and are not sure what to do. Some students feel stressed before tests. Some find it hard to organise their time. Some are worried about making mistakes. They are looking for someone who can give clear and helpful advice.
Your task is to join the School Life Advisor Team. You will read real situations and decide what advice can help students make better choices. There are no strict rules in these situations. Different decisions can lead to different results. Careful advice can help avoid problems and make school life easier. Think carefully before you decide. Your advice can make a real difference.
Advice examples
You should start preparing for tests earlier.
You should ask your teacher if something is not clear.
You should organise your time carefully.
You shouldn’t ignore important deadlines.
You shouldn’t leave everything until the last moment.
Small decisions can create big improvements.
You should start preparing for tests earlier.
You should ask your teacher if something is not clear.
You should organise your time carefully.
You shouldn’t ignore important deadlines.
You shouldn’t leave everything until the last moment.
Small decisions can create big improvements.
Understanding the Advice
In school life, there are situations where there is no strict rule, but some decisions are better than others. In these situations, we often give advice or recommendations. English uses the modal verb "should" to express what we think is the best or right thing to do.
In school life, there are situations where there is no strict rule, but some decisions are better than others. In these situations, we often give advice or recommendations. English uses the modal verb "should" to express what we think is the best or right thing to do.
Rule 1 — Advice and recommendation
You should start preparing for tests earlier.
You should ask your teacher if something is not clear.
You shouldn’t ignore important deadlines.
You should start preparing for tests earlier.
You should ask your teacher if something is not clear.
You shouldn’t ignore important deadlines.
We use "should" when we think something is a good idea. The speaker suggests the best action, but there is choice.
The person can decide whether to follow the advice.
Rule 2 — The best possible decision
You should organise your time carefully.
You should check your work before submitting it.
Meaning: this choice can lead to better results.
You should organise your time carefully.
You should check your work before submitting it.
We use "should" when we think something is the most appropriate or sensible action.
Rule 3 — Expectation (something is likely)
The results should be available tomorrow.
The teacher should answer your message soon.
Meaning: we think this will probably happen.
The results should be available tomorrow.
The teacher should answer your message soon.
We use "should" when we think something is likely to happen or is expected.
Formation rules
Rule 1 — Verb form after "should"
Examples:
You should organise your notes.
Students should check their answers carefully.
Rule 2 — Negative form
Examples:
You shouldn’t leave homework until the last moment.
Students should not ignore instructions.
Meaning: this is not a good idea.
Rule 3 — Questions with "should"
Examples:
Should I ask for help?
Should we revise before the test?
We do not use do / does / did with modal verbs.
Rule 4 — No -s after "should"
Examples:
He should ask questions. (not: should asks)
She should check the instructions. (not: should checks)
Rule 1 — Verb form after "should"
After "should", we use the base form of the verb (infinitive without to). Structure: should + base verb
You should organise your notes.
Students should check their answers carefully.
Rule 2 — Negative form
The negative form of "should" is "should not" or "shouldn’t". Structure: should not + base verb
You shouldn’t leave homework until the last moment.
Students should not ignore instructions.
Meaning: this is not a good idea.
Rule 3 — Questions with "should"
To form questions, we change the position of "should" and the subject. Structure: Should + subject + base verb ? We do not use do / does / did to form a question.
Should I ask for help?
Should we revise before the test?
We do not use do / does / did with modal verbs.
Rule 4 — No -s after "should"
Modal verbs do not change form. We do not add -s after he / she / it.
He should ask questions. (not: should asks)
She should check the instructions. (not: should checks)