should, ought to, had better
Grammar

There are three auxiliary verbs that can be used to give advice: should, ought to, had better.

You should put cool water on a burn.
You ought to put cool water on a burn.
You had better put cool water on a burn.

All three mean "should," but "had better" is stronger because it implies a negative consequence if you don't follow the advice. Another difference is that "ought to" and "had better" are generally not used in questions.

Should I put cool water on a burn?
Ought I to put cool water on a burn?
Had better I put cool water on a burn?

There is also a difference in the negative form. A contraction can only be made with the verb should. Also note the position of not. It comes after should and had better, but in between ought and to (ought not to).

Negative sentence	Contraction
You should not put hot water on a burn.	You shouldn't put hot water on a burn.
You ought not to put hot water on a burn.	(There is no contraction.)
You had better not put hot water on a burn.	(There is no contraction.)

Exercise - should, ought to, had better

Instructions
Write sentences to give advice. Use the verb and the information in parentheses. Make sure you use the correct capitalization and include a period or question mark at the end.

The purpose of this exercise is to practice English grammar, not to recommend medical treatments. To learn about first aid treatments, visit www.redcross.org.

example
What should I do if someone's heart stops beating? (should/do CPR)

Exercise - Select the verb

Select the correct verb in each sentence.

Find the Mistake

Instructions
Identify the error in the following sentences and write the corrected version.

example
He are a teacher. → He is a teacher.

Writing

Write a letter to a friend giving them advice using these verbs (should, ought to, had better).

example
You should exercise everyday. You ought to eat healthy things like fruits and vegetables. You shouldn't eat fatty foods. You had better lose weight, or you might have a heart attack some day. (etc.)

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