Ask the Crowd (should)

ENGLISH GRAMMAR

Ask the Crowd

What should I do?

A2 · 60 minutes

Who do you ask?

Task You need help with these things. Who do you ask? Choose for each one. Then compare with a partner.

1

a good restaurant for a birthday dinner

a friend

the internet

I don't ask

2

how to fix a broken chair

a friend

the internet

I don't ask

3

what to wear to a wedding

a friend

the internet

I don't ask

4

which phone to buy

a friend

the internet

I don't ask

5

a new recipe for dinner tonight

a friend

the internet

I don't ask

6

how to say "thank you" in Japanese

a friend

the internet

I don't ask

Before you read

Task Three people need help on a website. Read their post titles. Write one idea for each person.

Mateo: a new office job on Monday. What to wear?

1

Hana: her first 14-hour flight.

2

Sung-min: dinner with a friend's parents.

3

Ask the Crowd

Task Read the forum. Are your ideas there?

Mateo · New job on Monday!

Hana · My first long flight

Sung-min · Dinner with my friend's parents

Hi all, I need some advice. I start a new office job on Monday, and I'm a bit nervous. What should I wear? Should I wear a suit?

Next month I have my first long flight: 14 hours! Should I take a pillow?

My friend's parents invited me to dinner on Saturday. I don't eat meat, but they don't know. Should I bring something?

Farid: Yes, you should. A small one. And you should take a jacket. It's cold on the plane at night.

Olu: I think you should ask your manager. Every office is different.

Zara: Yes, you should. Something small, like a cake or flowers. And your friend should tell them before Saturday, not you.

Inés: No, you shouldn't. And you shouldn't wear new shoes! My feet hurt all day in my first week.

Zara: I don't think you should watch films all night. You should sleep a bit.

Olu: I don't think you should arrive early. Arrive on time, or ten minutes late.

Who said it?

Task Who said it? Choose. Then check in the forum.

1

Ask someone at your new office. __________

Olu

Inés

2

Wear your old shoes. __________

Olu

Inés

3

Take something warm on the plane. __________

Zara

Farid

4

Sleep on the plane. __________

Zara

Farid

5

Take a small present. __________

Olu

Zara

6

Get there on time. __________

Olu

Zara

Talk about it

Task In pairs. Answer the questions, then tell the class.

Is there a reply you don't agree with? Why?

1

Sung-min wants one more idea for Saturday. What's your idea?

2

Good idea or bad idea?

Task In pairs. What does the person think: good idea or bad idea? Put each reply in the right column.

Olu: I don't think you should arrive early.

Farid: You should take a jacket.

Inés: You shouldn't wear new shoes!

Olu: I think you should ask your manager.

They think: good idea

They think: bad idea

Look again

Task Which is in the forum? Choose. Then choose the rule and the word order.

Olu I think you __________ your manager.

1

should to ask

should ask

After should and shouldn't, the verb is…

A. just the verb, like after can

B. to + verb

C. verb + -s or -ing

Sung-min __________ something?

2

Should I bring

Do I should bring

Zara Your friend __________ them before Saturday.

3

should tells

should tell

In a question, should comes __________ I.

Olu I don't think you __________ arrive early.

4

before

after

should

shouldn't

Say it

Task Listen and repeat. Then say them to a partner.

1

You should take a jacket.

2

You shouldn't wear new shoes.

3

Should I bring something?

4

Should I take a pillow? / Yes, you should.

5

I don't think you should arrive early.

Grammar reference

Advice: should + verb

Asking for advice

Softer advice

You should ask your manager.

You shouldn't wear new shoes.

Your friend should tell them.

The same for every person: I, you, he, she, we, they should…

Should I take a pillow?

What should I wear?

Short answers: Yes, you should.

No, you shouldn't.

I think you should ask your manager.

I don't think you should arrive early.

Like can

I can swim / You should go

I can't swim / You shouldn't go

Can I…? / Should I…?

Yes, I can / Yes, you should

Say it

should rhymes with good: the l is silent.

should = it's my idea; you can choose.

CAREFUL

No to, no -s, no do: You should ask (not should to ask), She should go (not She shoulds go or She should goes), Should I bring…? (not Do I should bring…?). I don't think you should (not I don't think you shouldn't). some advice (not an advice or advices).

Problems and replies

Task Match each problem to a reply. Then read them aloud with a partner.

1

My neighbour plays loud music every night. What should I do?

A

I don't think you should. He should wash his own plates!

2

My sister wants to learn the guitar, but she's 55. Is it too late?

B

You should take two copies of your CV and a pen.

3

I have a job interview tomorrow. What should I take with me?

C

I think you should talk to them. Ask them to stop the music at 10 p.m.

4

I want to buy a used car from a website. Should I pay before I see it?

D

Yes, you should. Tell her it's a problem for you.

5

My friend is always 30 minutes late. Should I say something?

E

Not at all! She should find a teacher and start this month.

6

My flatmate never washes his plates. Should I wash them for him?

F

No, you shouldn't. You should see it and drive it first.

Complete the replies

Task Mateo is back on Ask the Crowd. Complete the posts. In 1 and 3, put the words in order and add should. In the others, use should or shouldn't and the verb in brackets.

1

Mateo My first week was great, thanks! On Friday I'm giving a short talk at work. __________? (what / I / talk about)

2

Olu Choose a topic you know well. And your talk __________ (be) very long. Five minutes is fine.

3

Mateo OK, thanks. __________? (I / use / slides)

4

Zara Yes, you __________. But I don't think you __________ (put) lots of words on them.

5

Inés You __________ (read) from your phone. Look at the people in the room!

6

Farid Your manager __________ (give) you more time. Friday is very soon!

7

Hana And you __________ (practise) with a friend at home first.

Your post

Task Write a post for Ask the Crowd (2–3 sentences). Choose a problem: real or invented. End with Should I…? or What should I…?

• a present for a colleague

• a weekend in a new city

• a new hobby

• a broken laptop

• a party for 30 people

• learning English faster

Reply and choose

Task Swap posts with a partner and give advice.

Read your partner's post. Write a reply with two ideas: one with should, one with shouldn't or I don't think you should.

1

2

Read the replies to your post. Choose the best idea.

Tell the class: What was your problem? What was the best advice? Why?

3

Homework

Task A Read Zara's reply. Six sentences have a mistake. Find and correct them.

Farid I'm moving to a new city next month, and I don't know any people there. What should I do?

Zara

Hi Farid! I have an advice for you. I moved to a new city last year, so I know! First, you should to join a sports club or a class. You should try two or three. I don't think you shouldn't stay at home at the weekend. Go out and walk around. Do you should talk to your neighbours? Yes, you should! A friend from home should visits you in the first month. You shouldn't feel bad if it's hard at first. It takes time. Thanks for the advices on my post last week, and good luck!

Homework

Task B Write the question for each reply. Use should and the words in brackets.

1

__________? (I / take / an umbrella)

Yes, you should. It rains a lot in October.

2

__________? (what / I / cook / for ten people)

I think you should make pasta. Most people like it.

3

__________? (my brother / buy / a new phone)

No, he shouldn't. His old phone is fine.

4

__________? (where / we / go / on holiday)

I think you should go to the mountains. It's quieter than the beach.

5

__________? (I / call / her)

I don't think you should. Send her a message.

6

__________? (what time / I / arrive)

You should arrive at 7. The film starts at 7.15.

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key (1)

ASK THE CROWD spoken check

• Students' own ideas. In the forum: Mateo: ask the manager, no suit, no new shoes · Hana: a small pillow, a jacket, sleep a bit, not films all night · Sung-min: a small present (a cake or flowers), the friend tells the parents, arrive on time or ten minutes late.

GOOD IDEA OR BAD IDEA?

They think: good idea take a jacket (Farid); ask your manager (Olu)

They think: bad idea wear new shoes (Inés); arrive early (Olu)

LOOK AGAIN

Which is in the forum? 1 should ask; 2 Should I bring; 3 should tell; 4 should

The rule A: just the verb, like after can

Word order before

WHO SAID IT?

1 Olu

2 Inés

3 Farid

4 Zara

5 Zara

6 Olu

TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key (2)

PROBLEMS AND REPLIES

1 C · 2 E · 3 B · 4 F · 5 D · 6 A

HOMEWORK (A)

Fixes I have some advice for you; you should join; I don't think you should stay at home (also right: You shouldn't stay at home; I think you shouldn't stay at home); Should you talk to your neighbours?; should visit you; Thanks for the advice

Already right You should try two or three; Yes, you should!; You shouldn't feel bad

COMPLETE THE REPLIES

1 What should I talk about?

2 shouldn't be (should not be is also right)

3 Should I use slides?

4 should; should put

5 shouldn't read (should not read is also right)

6 should give

7 should practise (should practice is fine too)

HOMEWORK (B)

1 Should I take an umbrella?

2 What should I cook for ten people?

3 Should my brother buy a new phone?

4 Where should we go on holiday?

5 Should I call her?

6 What time should I arrive?