Lesson

Should, ought to and had better

Advice and recommendation

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

Should, ought to and had better

These three structures are used to give advice, make recommendations, or warn someone. They differ in strength and formality:

  • Should: common for general advice and expectations.
  • Ought to: similar to should, slightly more formal and often used for moral duty.
  • Had better: stronger; suggests a warning or possible bad consequence if action is not taken.

Table

Comparison and Examples

Modal Use Form Example
should Advice, suggestion, expectation should + base verb You should finish the report by Friday.
ought to Advice, moral obligation (more formal) ought to + base verb You ought to inform the team about the change.
had better Strong recommendation; warning about consequences had better + base verb (often contracted: you'd better) You had better back up your files before the update.
should have / ought to have / had better have + past participle Past criticism or expectation (should/ought to), had better have for expectation that something was done modal + have + past participle She should have checked the figures earlier.

Tip

Key rule: Strength and form

Choose the structure according to how strong your advice is:

  • Use 'should' for normal suggestions and expectations: should + base verb.
  • Use 'ought to' when you want a slightly more formal or moral tone: ought to + base verb.
  • Use 'had better' to warn about likely negative consequences: had better + base verb (often contracted: you'd better).

All three use the base verb after them (no 'to' after should, and 'had better' is followed by the base verb).

Example

Examples in context

You should send the invoice by Monday.

They ought to review the contract before signing.

You had better contact IT now or the system will crash.

He should have told us about the problem earlier.

Tip

Common mistakes

Watch out for these frequent errors when using should, ought to and had better:

  • Adding 'to' after should (incorrect: 'should to do').
  • Using 'had better' in past-tense narration (it refers to present/future warning).
  • Confusing identical meanings but different strengths — use had better for warnings, not casual suggestions.
  • Incorrect verb form after the modal (remember: modal + base verb; for past modal use 'modal + have + past participle').

Check verb forms and the intended strength of your advice before choosing a modal.

Quiz

Choose the sentence that correctly uses 'had better'.

Hint: Focus on the correct form after 'had better' (base verb only).

Quiz

Complete: If you want the promotion, you _____ improve your presentation skills.

Hint: Think about the modal used for general advice.

Quiz

Which sentence expresses the strongest warning?

Hint: Consider which modal indicates the most urgent advice or warning.

Key Points

GrammarPoint

should

modal verb CEFR B1 //ʃʊd//

Used to give advice, make recommendations, or express expectation.

You should update the client about the project's status.

GrammarPoint

ought to

modal phrase CEFR B2 //ɔːt tuː//

Expresses advice or moral obligation, slightly more formal than should.

Managers ought to set clear deadlines for the team.

GrammarPoint

had better

modal phrase CEFR B2 //hæd ˈbɛtər//

Used for strong advice or warnings; often implies negative consequences if ignored.

You had better save your work before the update.

Vocabulary

advice

noun CEFR B1 //ədˈvaɪs//

A suggestion about what someone should do.

She gave me good advice about negotiating the contract.

Vocabulary

recommendation

noun CEFR B2 //ˌrɛkəmenˈdeɪʃən//

A formal suggestion or proposal.

The consultant made several recommendations for process improvement.

Vocabulary

obligation

noun CEFR B2 //ˌɒblɪˈɡeɪʃən//

A duty or commitment to do something.

Employees have an obligation to follow company policies.