1. Read the situations and write sentences with ought (not) to. Some of the sentences are past and some are present.
1 Andy is very shy. His teacher chose him to make a speech to the whole school.
His teacher ought not to have chosen Andy to make a speech to the whole school.
2 Carla has an exam on Monday. She plans to spend the weekend at a music festival.
She …………………………………………… .
3 I live in Kyoto. You went there last week, but you didn’t visit me.
You …………………………………………… .
4 Dan has a new games console. His brother used it without asking.
He …………………………………………… .
5 You’ve bought a new phone. The shop said it had unlimited data, but it has a monthly limit.
They …………………………………………… .
6 We wanted to fly home at the weekend, but the flights were all full. We hadn’t booked seats.
We …………………………………………… .
Answer
Example answers:
2 ought not to spend the weekend at a music festival
3 ought to have visited me
4 ought to have asked to use it
5 ought not to have said it had unlimited data
6 ought to have booked seats
2. Tick (✓) the correct sentence in each pair, or tick both if both are correct.
1 a You should always lock your front door when you go out. ✓
b You’d better always lock your front door when you go out.
2 a I should leave now or I’ll miss my bus.
b I’d better leave now or I’ll miss my bus.
3 a I don’t think people should keep pets if they don’t have time to care for them properly.
b I don’t think people had better keep pets if they don’t have time to care for them properly.
4 a If you want to take photos here, you should ask permission or we might get into trouble.
b If you want to take photos here, you’d better ask permission or we might get into trouble.
5 a You should wear a coat. It’s cold outside.
b You’d better wear a coat. It’s cold outside.
6 a Would you mind getting some bread when you’re out? The money I gave you should be enough.
b Would you mind getting some bread when you’re out? The money I gave you had better be enough.
7 a I realise you must be surprised to see us. Perhaps I should explain what’s going on.
b I realise you must be surprised to see us. Perhaps I’d better explain what’s going on.
8 a People really should wear a helmet when they ride a bike.
b People really had better wear a helmet when they ride a bike.
9 a Passengers on long flights should move their legs as much as possible.
b Passengers on long flights had better move their legs as much as possible.
10 a Tell Jess that she should bring some cash if we’re going out tonight.
b Tell Jess that she’d better bring some cash if we’re going out tonight.
Answer
2 a and b 3 a 4 a and b
5 a and b 6 a 7 a and b
8 a 9 a 10 a and b
3. Complete the email with had better, should or have to. Sometimes there is more than one answer.
From: Anna James
To: Gary Newland
Subject: Travel tips
Hey Gary,
I know you haven’t done such a long flight before so I thought I (1) …’d better…… give you a few tips. First, you (2) …………………… make sure you get to the airport really early because you always (3) …………………… spend ages getting through security. You (4) …………………… be prepared for them to open all your hand luggage too. Your flight is an early one so, with luck, you (5) …………………… be able to get a seat in the business lounge. You (6) …………………… (not) pay for breakfast as it’s free there. When your flight’s called, you (7) …………………… start moving to the gate immediately because sometimes you (8) …………………… walk for about fifteen minutes. You (9) …………………… (not) take very heavy hand luggage because you (10) …………………… carry it yourself and you can’t take a trolley to the gates. Everyone agrees there (11) …………………… be some, of course, but there aren’t. You get a meal on the flight, and even if it doesn’t taste very exciting you (12) …………………… eat it, because there’s nowhere to eat until you reach your hotel at the other end. If you have any questions, email me.
Love, Anna x
Answer
2 ’d better / had better / should
3 have to
4 have to / should
5 should
6 don’t have to
7 ’d better / had better / should
8 have to
9 ’d better not / had better not / shouldn’t
10 have to
11 should
12 ’d better / had better / should
4. Complete the second sentence with (don’t) have to, should(n’t) or had better (not) so that it has a similar meaning to the first.
1 It is compulsory to wear a helmet when you ride a motorbike.
You …have to wear a helmet when you ride a motorbike. ………
2 It’s advisable to check that all the windows are shut whenever you go out.
You ………………………………………………… .
3 It’s not acceptable to borrow money from people you hardly know.
You ………………………………………………… .
4 I suggest we keep the door shut in case someone sees us.
You ………………………………………………… .
5 Training regularly is essential if you want to succeed in athletics.
You ………………………………………………… .
6 I don’t think it’s a good idea to take your phone to the beach. It might get stolen.
You ………………………………………………… .
7 It’d be a good idea to change your shirt before the guests arrive.
You ………………………………………………… .
8 There is no extra charge for delivery.
You ………………………………………………… .
Answer
2 should check that all the windows are shut whenever you go out
3 shouldn’t borrow money from people you hardly know
4 ’d better / should keep the door shut in case someone sees us
5 have to train regularly if you want to succeed in athletics
6 ’d better not / shouldn’t take your phone to the beach. It might get stolen
7 ’d better / should change your shirt before the guests arrive
8 don’t have to pay extra for delivery