50 Practice Makes Perfect English Conversation
Should indicates direct or indirect advice.What should I wear to the interview?
You should go home now.
He shouldn’t be here.
Past tense: You should have gone home.Ought to can be used to give direct or indirect advice. It is not used in a question or in nega-
tive form.What should I wear? You ought to wear a suit.
He ought to come to work on time.
We ought to have been nicer to them.Would is used with if to indicate how things could be different under different
circumstances.If I were the teacher, I would make sure the children had fun while learning.Would like is a polite way to say what you want.We would like three ice-cream cones.
They would like donuts.Would rather is a way to indicate preference. It is often contracted to I’d, you’d, he’d, she’d,
they’d.She is teaching geometry, but she would rather teach algebra.
I’m leaving now, but I’d rather stay here.Would can also be a past tense marker, indicating repeated or habitual activity to describe
the past.When we were little, we would go to my grandmother’s house every Sunday for dinner.
I would always play with my cousin, Bobby.
Sometimes, we would get into trouble.Must indicates probability. The negative form is not contracted for this meaning.He left at four o’clock, so he must be in Chicago by now.
She doesn’t answer her phone. She must not be home.Must not indicates prohibition or strong advice. It is often contracted to mustn’t.You must not put your feet on the table.
You mustn’t walk alone after dark.Have to
Have to indicates obligation or necessity.Lee has to be at work by seven o’clock.
Do you have to leave so early? No, I don’t have to leave. I thought you were
ready for everyone to go home.