Complete the 12 sentences below. Choose the best answer for each one.
1If you're worried about the results, you ............... call the doctor this afternoon.
Wrong!
Use "should" for friendly advice; "must" is too strong for this gentle suggestion.
2You ............... drink so much coffee at night; it will keep you awake.
Wrong!
Use "shouldn't" to give negative advice; "don't have to" means it is not necessary.
3It isn't fair if only a few people bring food, so everyone ............... bring something to share.
Wrong!
Use "ought to" to say what is the right or sensible thing to do; "may" only gives permission, which does not fit the reason given.
4He took the bus an hour ago, and the trip only takes twenty minutes, so he ............... be home by now.
Wrong!
Use "should" for something you expect to be true; "shouldn't" would mean you expect him not to be home, which does not fit a twenty-minute trip that started an hour ago.
5The application closes on Friday, so you ............... send the form today.
Wrong!
Use "should" because the deadline makes it the advisable action; "could" only says it is possible.
6There's a warning sign, so we ............... park near the entrance.
Wrong!
Use "shouldn't" for advice not to do something; "might not" means maybe not.
7Before you sign the contract, you ought ............... ask your manager to read it.
Wrong!
After "ought", use "to" before the base verb: "to" is correct here.
8Visitors ............... ignore the safety rules in the laboratory.
Wrong!
The standard negative form is "ought not to" before the base verb.
9It's cold outside, so you ............... wear a warm coat.
Wrong!
Use "should" directly before the base verb; "ought" needs "to" before the verb.
10For the job interview, you ............... arrive ten minutes early because parking is difficult.
Wrong!
Use "should" for advice about the best action; "will" only predicts the future.
11He was rude to Mia, so he ............... apologise to her.
Wrong!
Use "ought to" when saying what is morally right or responsible; "can" only means ability or possibility.
12It wasn't her fault, so she ............... be upset about the mistake.
Wrong!
Use "shouldn't" to advise against a feeling or action: it wasn't her fault, so there is no reason for her to be upset.
Exercise complete
0 out of 12
correct answers
Answers
- If you’re worried about the results, you should call the doctor this afternoon.
- You shouldn’t drink so much coffee at night; it will keep you awake.
- It isn’t fair if only a few people bring food, so everyone ought to bring something to share.
- He took the bus an hour ago, and the trip only takes twenty minutes, so he should be home by now.
- The application closes on Friday, so you should send the form today.
- There’s a warning sign, so we shouldn’t park near the entrance.
- Before you sign the contract, you ought to ask your manager to read it.
- Visitors ought not to ignore the safety rules in the laboratory.
- It’s cold outside, so you should wear a warm coat.
- For the job interview, you should arrive ten minutes early because parking is difficult.
- He was rude to Mia, so he ought to apologise to her.
- It wasn’t her fault, so she shouldn’t be upset about the mistake.