Should (advice)

When you want to tell someone what is a good idea — or ask someone what a good idea would be — English reaches for one small word: should. You should rest. You shouldn't worry. Should I call her?

The best part is how simple should is to use. It's a modal verb, so it never changes its form, and the verb after it is always the plain base form — no to, no -s, no -ed.

Quick shortcut: when giving advice, should + base verb means "this is a good idea" and shouldn't + base verb means "this is a bad idea."

(Should has other uses too, such as expectation — The bus should arrive soon — but this lesson focuses on advice.)

How to form it

Should sits between the subject and the main verb, and the main verb stays in its base form:

The form is the same for every subject — I, you, he, she, we, they all use should:

• I should go. · She should go. · They should go.

Because should is a modal, the verb after it never takes an ending:

• ✅ He should call her, never ❌ He should calls her.
• ✅ You should rest, never ❌ You should to rest.

Shouldn't is just the short form of should not. Both are correct; shouldn't is more natural in speech.

Giving advice

Use should to say something is a good idea, and shouldn't to say it's a bad idea:

• You look tired. You should go to bed.
• You shouldn't drink coffee in the evening.
• We should book the tickets early.
• He shouldn't worry so much.

To make advice gentler or more personal, English speakers often start with I think you should… or I don't think you should…:

• I think you should talk to her.
• I don't think you should buy it. (Notice we usually make think negative, not should: ✅ I don't think you should go sounds more natural than I think you shouldn't go.)

Asking for advice

Turn should into a question by putting it before the subject. This is how you ask for someone's opinion or advice:

• Should I wear a jacket?
• Should we tell him the truth?
• What should I do?
• Where should we go on holiday?

Short answers reuse should:

• Should I call her? — Yes, you should. / No, you shouldn't.

A note on ought to

You may hear ought to in advice: You ought to see a doctor. It means almost the same as should, but it keeps the to before the main verb. Its question and negative forms are less common and more formal, so should is the most useful one for everyday English — it's enough for now to recognise ought to when you meet it.

For other ways to talk about what's necessary rather than advisable, see have to / must (obligation and rules) and, for asking permission politely, requests & permission with can, could and may.

Common mistakes

• ❌ You should to rest. → ✅ You should rest. (no to after should)
• ❌ She should goes home. → ✅ She should go home. (base form, no -s)
• ❌ Should I to bring food? → ✅ Should I bring food? (no to in the question either)
• ❌ You don't should worry. → ✅ You shouldn't worry. (the negative is shouldn't, with no don't)
• ❌ Do I should call him? → ✅ Should I call him? (modals make questions on their own — no do)

Quick check

Complete with should, shouldn't, or the right question form:

1. You have a headache. You ____ (get) some rest.
2. It's raining. ____ I ____ (bring) an umbrella?
3. He ate too much. He ____ (not / eat) so fast.
4. I don't know what to do. What ____ I ____ (do)?

Key takeaways

• Should gives advice ("a good idea"); shouldn't advises against ("a bad idea").
• It's a modal: same for every subject, and the verb after it is always the base form — no to, no -s, no -ed.
• Make questions by putting should before the subject: Should I…? — and answer with Yes, you should / No, you shouldn't.
• For softer advice, use I think you should… / I don't think you should….
• Ought to means almost the same but keeps the to; should is the everyday choice.