Advice (should/ought to) Exercises PDFSet 4: Mixed Advice Modals: Should, Ought To & Had Better in Context
20 questions·15 min·Answers included·Explanations included
Preview: Questions
Fill in the blank with the correct option.
1.Doctor: You ___ cut down on sugar. Your blood sugar levels are too high.
a) shouldn'tb) had better notc) oughtd) should
2.You ___ text while driving. It's extremely dangerous and against the law.
a) shouldb) shouldn'tc) ought tod) had better
3.You look stressed. Maybe you ___ take a few days off work.
a) had betterb) shouldc) mustd) ought
4.All employees ___ to complete the safety training by the end of the month.
a) oughtb) shouldc) had betterd) would
5.You ___ stop smoking now, or your lungs will suffer serious damage.
a) shouldb) ought toc) had betterd) would
... and 15 more questions in the PDF
Preview: Answers
1.should
2.shouldn't
3.should
4.ought
5.had better
... and 15 more answers in the PDF
Preview: Explanations
1."should"(d)
A doctor giving health advice typically uses 'should'. 'You should cut down on sugar' is a clear medical recommendation. 'Ought to' is possible but less common in spoken medical advice, and the stem doesn't include 'to'.
2."shouldn't"(b)
'Shouldn't' gives negative advice — recommending against something dangerous. While texting and driving is also illegal (obligation), the sentence focuses on giving advice about safety.
3."should"(b)
'Maybe you should...' is a gentle, tentative suggestion. The word 'maybe' softens the advice further. This is caring advice to a friend or colleague, not a formal recommendation or an urgent warning.
4."ought"(a)
'Ought to' is appropriate for formal workplace recommendations. 'All employees ought to complete the safety training' reads like an official notice. It's more formal than 'should' and suitable for professional communication.
5."had better"(c)
'Had better' conveys urgency and implies serious consequences. The 'or' clause makes the negative consequence explicit — serious lung damage. When a consequence is clearly stated with 'or', 'had better' is the most appropriate choice.
... and 15 more explanations in the PDF
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