|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Should vs Can
Should vs Can
|
mirelli
|
Should vs Can
|
|
Hello friends!
I really need your help!
Yesterday I was teaching my students that we use can and should for ADVICE, it �s a topic on interchange 1.
For example: Where can I buy some jewelry? You should visit _____(place)
One of my students is saying that she �s not understanding when to use should and when to use can.
Do you know any good way to teach the difference?
Thank you in advance.
Mirelli
|
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
|
|
|
MissAndreaP
|
|
Have you tried conveying the idea of being in trouble and in need of good advice? I mean... "I completly forgot it was my best friend �s birthday yesterday! what should I do?! ---> you should buy her (a nice necklace) and apologize ---> Where can I buy a nice one? ---> Well, you CAN buy one at any jewelery store BUT I think you SHOULD go to "Goldie" store. They make exclusive ones there! Or the idea of "the right thing to do" ---> Sometimes you CAN buy medicine without a recipe but I think you SHOULD ask a doctor first. Hope it works! :)
|
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
Sonyta04
|
|
Advice doesn �t have any plural, never say Advices... instead you can say pieces of advice, never advices :) |
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
aliciapc
|
|
" SOME advice" sounds even better than "pieces of advice" (not really used !) ... Just a suggestion :-) |
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
dackala
|
Pieces of advice is frequently used indeed. However, in this case, you should better say � for giving advice �. If you compare the use of �some advice � and �pieces of advice � only on Internet, you could see how many results each has. �Pieces of advice � is three times more used. And how many times you can hear from the movies: �Look, I really need to give you one good piece of advice �.
|
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
cunliffe
|
|
Either way about advice, it �s impolite to correct on the forum - you should send a pm. |
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
MoodyMoody
|
|
In this case, I disagree, Lynne. We �re used to thinking of advice as non-countable, but many non-native speakers aren �t. Perhaps the advice could (there �s another modal for the crowd!) have been a bit more diplomatic, but I think that this kind of advice helps not only the OP, but others. That said, I usually do criticize in PM, especially for worksheets. |
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
Jayho
|
|
Hi Mirelli
Should & can in this situation are tricky!
MissAndreaP �s explanation is good.
Where I live, should in your context is very strong and could/can are better options.
This is how I teach it:
Should is for when there is no other option:
Where can I buy some exclusive or really special jewellery for my daughter�s 18th birthday? For something really special you should go to _______
Could/can is for when there are other options, so for suggestion or possibility.
Where can I buy some jewellery? You could/can go to _____ , ______ or _______ .
Hope this helps
Cheers
Jayho
P.S. I don�t find any of these replies impolite (or have some been deleted?)
- Advice does actually have a plural, but not in this context
- Both Some and Piece/s of advice are used in my neck of the woods
|
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
Zora
|
|
I teach "should" as a suggestion. i.e. you should - I suggest to you that...
Can is a suggestion but not a personal one, you are just telling if as it is. It �s a fact. You can go somewhere because they sell those items, you know that shop sells that item. But it �s not really a personal suggestion, ie you not would go there to buy that item even though that shop sells it. "Should" implies that you would go there because something makes it �s special.
|
21 Mar 2014
|
|
|
Sonn
|
can - may
should - must
You can means "you may do it if you want to".
You should means "I think you must do it, but you don �t have to if you don �t want".
|
21 Mar 2014
|
|
1
2
Next >
|
