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Advice (should/ought to) Exercises PDFSet 3: Should vs Ought To vs Had Better: Choosing the Right Modal

20 questions·14 min·Answers included·Explanations included

Preview: Questions

Fill in the blank with the correct option.

1.You ___ try the new Italian restaurant on Park Street. The food is amazing!

a) had betterb) oughtc) mustd) should

2.You'd ___ not forget your passport, or you won't be able to board the plane.

a) shouldb) betterc) oughtd) rather

3.All visitors ___ to report to the reception desk upon arrival.

a) oughtb) had betterc) shouldd) would

4.It's getting late. I think we ___ leave soon.

a) shouldb) mustc) oughtd) shall

5.The road is very icy. You'd better ___ slowly.

a) to driveb) drivingc) drived) drove

... and 15 more questions in the PDF

Preview: Answers

1.should

2.better

3.ought

4.should

5.drive

... and 15 more answers in the PDF

Preview: Explanations

1."should"(d)

Use 'should' for casual, friendly recommendations. You're suggesting something enjoyable, not giving a formal instruction or a warning. 'Had better' would imply a negative consequence, which doesn't fit here.

2."better"(b)

'Had better not' is used when there is a clear negative consequence. Forgetting your passport means you can't fly — this makes 'had better' the right choice because the warning is serious and specific.

3."ought"(a)

'Ought to' fits formal contexts like official rules and workplace procedures. 'All visitors ought to report to reception' sounds professional. 'Should to report' would be incorrect because 'should' is not followed by 'to'.

4."should"(a)

'I think we should...' is a soft, friendly suggestion. 'I think' naturally pairs with 'should' to express a gentle opinion about what is a good idea. This is the most common way to make a casual group suggestion.

5."drive"(c)

'Had better' is followed by the base verb without 'to'. 'You'd better drive slowly' warns about a real danger — icy roads can cause accidents. Remember: had better + base verb.

... and 15 more explanations in the PDF

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