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Expressing advice - English lesson
We may all be required to give advice, ... or to receive it. A preliminary lesson was written to give the vocabulary. test
This one will be oriented towards expressions and idioms.
I) The necessary vocabulary: 
| To advise sb to do stg |
| To advise sb against stg |
| To seek advice from sb/ about stg |
| To recommend stg to sb |
| To guide sb |
| To warn/ a warning |
| To counsel sb/ a counsellor |
| Advice + singular |
| Advisable/ to advocate |
| To warn sb about stg |
| To exhort to do/ urge to do |
| To give sb a tip |
II) The necessary constructions to express advice:
➡️ 1) Modal auxiliaries:
a) 'SHOULD' used to express the opinion that the action of the main verb is one of duty,
or what is proper, or what is a good idea.
- You shouldn't go to bed so late.
b) 'OUGHT TO' is more formal, some would say more 'old-fashioned', less common in
modern spoken English, or used to express a 'moral duty'.
Be careful! In the negative form, it isn't contracted.
- You ought not to have said that.
c) the modal auxiliary 'MIGHT' gives advice 'kindly', without insisting too much.
- You might decide to do a little more exercise to lose weight.
d) On the contrary, you may feel the need, or the necessity, to ADVISE MORE
FORCEFULLY, in order to make the importance of the advice clearer: use YOU
HAD BETTER or MUST/ HAVE TO...
- Under these circumstances, you had better (you'd better) talk to a doctor rapidly.
Or a MODAL PRETERITE which relates the advice to the adviser more.
- If I were you, I wouldn't take those sleeping pills. Just try to relax.
- If I were in your shoes, I wouldn't take those sleeping pills. (this idiom is less formal)
➡️ 2) Use a conditional and suggestions:
a) Conditional:
- It would be a good idea to warn your parents first.
- I would advise you to ask for their permission.
b) Suggestions :
- I suggest taking a holiday before the end of the month.
- I suggest (that) you take a holiday before the end of the month.
or stronger:
- I recommend (that) you go and explain yourself as soon as possible.
- I recommend going and explaining yourself...
3) Use questions:
- Why don't you come and have dinner tonight?/ Why not come and have dinner tonight?
- How about advertising for your product?
- Have you tried drinking some herb tea before going to bed?
- Have you thought about eating lighter meals for dinner?
4) Use an imperative:
- Don't bother ironing my jeans!
III) Idioms expressing advice and suggestions:
- If I were you, I would.../ If I were in your shoes, I would...
- In your place, I would...
- I advise you to...
- You should take it with a pinch of salt...
- Don't put all your eggs in the same basket!
- Don't add fuel to the fire!
- Don't bite off more than you can chew!
- Cut to the chase!
- Don't judge the book by its cover!
I sincerely hope not to have given you 'more to bite than you can chew!' I don't think I have.
You'll see that this test isn't difficult, after all, even if the notion which is studied and the varied
forms to express it don't always make it very easy for you...
If you have difficulties, go slowly and do not hesitate to do it a second time...after reading the
explanations. I know you can do it! Go for it!
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