Learning objectives
- Ask for advice using natural expressions such as 'What should I do?' and 'What would you suggest?'
- Give advice correctly using should/shouldn't + base verb
- Give advice correctly using the fixed expression 'If I were you, I would...'
- Give advice correctly using 'Why don't you...?' + base verb
- Give advice correctly using 'It would be a good idea to...' + base verb
- Give advice correctly using 'I'd recommend/suggest' + gerund, avoiding the common bare-infinitive error
- Choose an appropriate advice structure depending on how direct or soft the advice should sound
Grammar & vocabulary
Asking for advice
There are several natural ways to ask someone for advice. "What should I do?" is the most direct and common question. "What would you suggest?" and "What do you think I should do?" are slightly more formal or thoughtful ways of asking the same thing. "Do you have any advice about...?" is useful when introducing a specific topic — for example, "Do you have any advice about choosing a university?" Note that "advice" is an uncountable noun in English: it is never used with "a" or in the plural ("an advice" and "advices" are both incorrect); to talk about one instance, use "a piece of advice."
should / shouldn't + base verb
'Should' is a modal verb used to give fairly direct advice about what you think is the right thing to do. It is always followed by the base form of the verb, with no 'to'. Affirmative: "You should talk to her." Negative: "You shouldn't ignore the problem." Question: "Should I apologize first?"
If I were you, I would...
This is a fixed hypothetical expression, related to the second conditional, used to give advice by imagining yourself in the other person's situation. It always uses 'were', for every subject, not 'was' — even with 'I'. "If I were you, I would talk to her." "If I were you, I wouldn't wait any longer." This structure often sounds gentler and more personal than a direct 'should' statement.
Why don't you...? and It would be a good idea to...
'Why don't you...?' + base verb proposes advice as a soft suggestion, almost like an invitation to consider an option, rather than a direct instruction. "Why don't you ask your teacher for help?" 'It would be a good idea to...' + full infinitive (to + base verb) is a more formal, indirect way to recommend an action. "It would be a good idea to review your notes before the exam."
I'd recommend/suggest + gerund
'Recommend' and 'suggest' are followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) or a that-clause — never by a bare infinitive. Correct: "I'd suggest talking to her." Correct: "I'd suggest that you talk to her." Incorrect: "I'd suggest to talk to her." The same rule applies to 'recommend': "I'd recommend getting some rest before the exam," not "I'd recommend to get some rest." This is one of the most commonly tested grammar points in this unit, so it is worth memorising the pattern exactly: suggest/recommend + -ing.
Common mistakes
Using a bare infinitive after 'suggest' — 'I'd suggest to talk to her' is incorrect; the correct form is 'I'd suggest talking to her' (gerund) or 'I'd suggest that you talk to her' (that-clause). This is one of the most common and most visible errors with this structure.
Saying 'If I was you' instead of 'If I were you' — the fixed expression for hypothetical advice uses 'were' for every subject; 'If I were you, I would rest for a few days' is the correct, standard form.
Forgetting the base verb after 'should' — 'You should to rest' is incorrect; 'should' is a modal verb and is always followed directly by the base form of the verb, with no 'to': 'You should rest.'
Using the base verb instead of the infinitive with 'It would be a good idea to...' — 'It would be a good idea talk to her' is incorrect; the correct form is 'It would be a good idea to talk to her,' since this expression is followed by a full infinitive (to + base verb).
Mixing up the word order in 'Why don't you...?' — the correct order is 'Why don't you' + base verb, not 'Why you don't' or 'Why not you'; for example, 'Why don't you ask your teacher for help?'
Worked example — A stressed friend
Passage
"I'm so stressed about the exam, what should I do?" "Well, first of all, you should make a study plan so you don't feel overwhelmed. If I were you, I would start with the subjects I find hardest. Why don't you also talk to your teacher about the topics you're unsure of? It would be a good idea to review your notes every evening instead of leaving everything until the last minute. And honestly, I'd suggest getting enough sleep too — it makes a real difference."
Explanation
"What should I do?" is the opening request for advice. The reply then uses four different advice structures in a row: "you should make" (should + base verb, direct advice), "If I were you, I would start" (fixed hypothetical, using 'were' for every subject), "Why don't you also talk" (soft suggestion), "It would be a good idea to review" (full infinitive after 'a good idea'), and finally "I'd suggest getting" — correctly using the gerund after 'suggest', not the infinitive.
3 practice exercises
Exercise 1
EasyMatch each sentence half to complete it correctly. 1) You should... 2) If I were you, I... 3) Why don't you... 4) I'd suggest... Endings: a) would talk to him. b) ask for help? c) talking to a teacher. d) apologize to your friend.
Show answer
1-d (You should apologize to your friend), 2-a (If I were you, I would talk to him), 3-b (Why don't you ask for help?), 4-c (I'd suggest talking to a teacher).
Exercise 2
MediumComplete each sentence with the correct form of the verb in brackets. 1) You should ___ (rest) before the exam. 2) If I were you, I ___ (not / wait) any longer. 3) Why don't you ___ (call) her tonight? 4) It would be a good idea ___ (review) your notes. 5) I'd recommend ___ (start) early.
Show answer
1) rest (should + base verb) 2) wouldn't wait (would + base verb) 3) call (Why don't you + base verb) 4) to review (a good idea + full infinitive) 5) starting (recommend + gerund).
Exercise 3
HardFind and correct the grammar error in each piece of advice. 1) 'I'd suggest to practise every day.' 2) 'If I was you, I would ask for a second opinion.' 3) 'You should to talk to your parents about it.' 4) 'It would be a good idea talk to your teacher.'
Show answer
1) 'to practise' → 'practising' (suggest + gerund, never a bare infinitive). 2) 'If I was you' → 'If I were you' (fixed hypothetical form uses 'were'). 3) 'should to talk' → 'should talk' (should is followed directly by the base verb, no 'to'). 4) 'idea talk' → 'idea to talk' (a good idea + full infinitive with 'to').
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FAQ
What is the correct grammar after 'suggest' when giving advice?
'Suggest' is followed by a gerund (verb + -ing) or a that-clause, never by a bare infinitive — 'I'd suggest talking to her' is correct, while 'I'd suggest to talk to her' is incorrect.
Why do we say 'If I were you' and not 'If I was you'?
'If I were you' is a fixed hypothetical expression that uses 'were' for every subject, including 'I', because it is a form of the second conditional describing an unreal situation; 'was' is sometimes heard in very informal speech, but 'were' is the standard, correct form to use, especially in writing.
What is the difference between 'should' and 'why don't you' when giving advice?
Both give advice, but 'should' + base verb states what you think is the right thing to do in a fairly direct way ('You should apologize'), while 'Why don't you...?' + base verb proposes a suggestion in a softer, more conversational way, as if inviting the person to consider an option ('Why don't you apologize?').