Grammar
Suggestions and advice: should, could, and why not
Your friend has missed the last bus. You can say, ‘You should call a taxi,’ or ‘Why not call a taxi?’ Both sentences offer help, but they sound a little different.
Give practical advice and make friendly suggestions with should, could, why not, and how about.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
Why not take the earlier train? /waɪ nɒt teɪk ðiː ˈɜːliə treɪn/
The short answer
Use should plus a base verb for advice: ‘You should save the receipt.’ Use could plus a base verb for a possible option: ‘You could ask the shop for help.’ Use why not plus a base verb or how about plus an -ing form to suggest an idea.
How about taking a short break?
Why it works: How about is followed by an -ing form when it introduces an activity.
5 more examples
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You should back up your files before you update the software.
Should gives advice that the speaker believes is sensible.
Not this:You
could back upyour files before you update the software. What changes: Could presents backing up as one possible action and sounds less forceful. -
Why not ask the receptionist for a map?
Why not is followed by the base verb ask.
Not this:
How about askingthe receptionist for a map? What changes: How about is followed by the -ing form asking when it suggests an action. -
We could meet outside the library at six.
Could offers a possible arrangement without saying that it is the only choice.
Not this:
Let's meetoutside the library at six. What changes: Let's makes a direct suggestion for a plan that includes the speaker and listener. -
You shouldn't drive when you are too tired.
Shouldn't gives advice against an action that may be unsafe or unwise.
Not this:You
could takethe train when you are too tired to drive. What changes: Could introduces an alternative action instead of a warning. -
Perhaps you should write the address down.
Perhaps softens the advice while keeping should as the main pattern.
Not this:
Maybe we couldwrite the address down. What changes: Maybe and could make the suggestion more open for discussion.
Read the full guide
Start with the strength of your message. If you believe one action is sensible, use should. If you are offering an option and the listener can choose, use could. Then choose a conversational pattern when it suits the situation: Why not take a walk? How about taking a walk? Let’s take a walk. The grammar after each opening is different, so learn the full pattern.
Use should when you have clear advice
Use should when you believe an action would be helpful, sensible, or necessary. It gives your opinion, but it is less forceful than must. Put the base verb after should for every subject: I should, you should, and they should all use the same verb form.
You should keep a copy of the booking email.
Keep is the base verb. Do not say ‘You should to keep’ because should is followed directly by the verb.
Complete the advice: You should ___ the doctor if the pain continues.
Use call: ‘You should call the doctor if the pain continues.’
Use could to offer an option
Use could when you want to offer one possible answer rather than say what someone should do. It is useful when several choices would work. The listener can accept the idea, choose another one, or ask for more details.
You could try the smaller shop across the road.
Could try means this is one option. It does not say that the smaller shop is the only or best answer.
Your colleague needs a quiet place to work. Offer one option with could.
For example: ‘You could use the meeting room this afternoon.’
Make a quick suggestion with why not
Why not introduces a suggestion as a question. Use the base form after it: Why not wait here? The speaker is not always asking for a reason. Often, the phrase simply means ‘I suggest that you do this.’
Why not send her a message first?
Send is the base verb after why not. ‘Why not sending’ does not fit this pattern.
Turn this idea into a suggestion: check the opening hours.
Say ‘Why not check the opening hours?’
Follow how about with a noun or an ing form
How about can introduce a thing, a time, or an activity. Use a noun when you name the thing: How about Friday? Use a verb ending in -ing when you name an action: How about leaving at seven? This form is common when people are making plans together.
How about meeting near the station?
Meeting is an -ing form because how about is followed by an activity in this sentence.
Complete the suggestion: How about ___ a table before we arrive?
Use booking: ‘How about booking a table before we arrive?’
Use let's for a shared plan
Let’s means let us. Use it when the speaker wants to do something with another person or group. It is followed by the base verb: Let’s leave now. Do not use let’s when you are advising only the listener to act alone.
Let's compare the two prices before we decide.
The plan includes both speakers, so let's is natural. ‘You should compare’ would give advice only to the listener.
Suggest a shared action after a meeting ends late.
For example: ‘Let's order a taxi together.’
Soften advice when the situation is personal
Advice can feel personal, even when you mean to help. Soften it with perhaps, maybe, I think, or a question. ‘Perhaps you could speak to the manager’ leaves room for the listener to choose. ‘Have you thought about speaking to the manager?’ asks about an option without telling the person what to do.
Maybe you could take a few days to think about it.
Maybe and could make this a gentle option. The listener can decide whether the idea suits their situation.
Make this advice less direct: You should talk to your neighbour.
Say ‘Perhaps you could talk to your neighbour.’
Before you go
Remember this
Use should plus a base verb when you think something is a good idea. Use could plus a base verb for a possible option. Use why not plus a base verb, and use how about plus a noun or an -ing form. Choose the form that matches how direct or open you want your suggestion to be.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Suggestions and advice: should, could, and why not"
What is the difference between should and could for advice?
Use should when you think an action is a good idea and you want to give clear advice. Use could when you want to offer one possible option. For example, should can recommend saving a receipt, while could can suggest asking a shop for help.
You should back up your files before you update the software.
What verb form comes after should and could?
Use the base form of the verb after should and could. Say You should rest and We could meet later. Do not add to before the verb, so You should to rest and We could to meet are not standard English patterns.
You could back up your files before you update the software.
How do I use why not to make a suggestion?
Use why not plus the base form of a verb. Why not ask the receptionist for a map? suggests an action in a friendly way. It often functions as a suggestion, even though it has the form of a question.
Why not ask the receptionist for a map?
Why does how about use an ing form?
Use how about with a noun or an -ing form. The -ing form names an activity, as in How about taking a short break? You can also use a noun when you name a thing or time, such as How about Friday?
How about asking the receptionist for a map?
How can I make advice sound less direct?
Add words such as perhaps or maybe, use could instead of should, or ask about an option. For example, Perhaps you could speak to the manager gives the listener room to decide. This can be helpful when the topic is personal or sensitive.
We could meet outside the library at six.