How do I ask for advice in English?
Asking for advice
- What do you think I should do?
- What should I do?
- What do you suggest?
- What do you advise me to do?
- If you were me what would you do?
- What ought I to do?
- Do you think that I should…?
Can I ask permission?
Asking for permission
- could is more formal and polite than can:
- may is another more formal and polite way of asking for permission:
- may is a more formal and polite way of giving permission:
- may is a more formal and polite way of saying that someone has permission:
Is the word should mandatory?
Should is used to mean a recommendation only. The word shall is used to indicate mandatory requirements strictly to be followed in order to conform to the standard and from which no deviation is permitted (shall equals is required to).
What do can and could express?
We all know how important it is to be able to express in English the ability or the possibility to do something, but English grammar can be tricky. So can and could are modal auxiliary verbs that express an ability, permission, request, offer or opportunity.
Is giving advice good?
A set of four studies ran by Michael Schaerer found that when people give advice, it increases their sense of power. One of these studies also showed that those who seek power are more likely to give advice than those who don’t. This doesn’t mean that every time any person gives advice, they’re just power hungry.
How do you ask for permission?
Asking for Permission:
- Can I go out, please?
- May I open the window, please?
- Please, can I have a look at your photo album?
- Please, may I taste that hot spicy couscous dish?
- Do you mind if I smoke?
- Would you mind if I asked you something?
- Is it okay if I sit here?
- Would it be all right if I borrowed your mobile Phone?
What are the better had rules?
Had better is always followed by a verb in the infinitive without ‘to’: You had better BE on time. You must or should be on time. Had better is ALWAYS formed from the auxiliary verb ‘have’ in the past simple (‘has better’ or ‘will have better’ do not exist!).
Should shouldn’t must Mustn T?
Mustn’t means it’s not allowed, or it’s a bad idea: You mustn’t eat so much chocolate, you’ll be sick….
| Present | Positive | Negative |
|---|---|---|
| should / shouldn’t | mild obligation or advice You should save some money. | mild negative obligation or advice You shouldn’t smoke so much. |