Unit 5 · Health & Wellbeing · Lesson 22
Good Advice
Learn how to give advice with the right strength — from gentle suggestion to firm recommendation — and how to refuse advice politely. You'll practise the full modal ladder so you sound helpful, not bossy.
Warm-up · §1
5 minGet talking
What's the best piece of advice you've ever received? Who gave it?
What advice do you always ignore? Why?
A friend keeps giving you health advice you didn't ask for. What do you actually say?
Grammar focus · §2
8–10 minThe advice ladder — from soft to strong
Quick rule
Match the modal to the situation: could (soft) → should (neutral) → ought to (firm) → 'd better (warning).
Pattern builder
Soft suggestion
You could + verb
e.g. You could try herbal tea.
Diplomatic
You might want to + verb
e.g. You might want to book an appointment.
Neutral advice
You should + verb
e.g. You should get some rest.
Firm advice
You (really) ought to + verb
e.g. You really ought to see a doctor.
Warning
You'd better + verb (or ELSE…)
e.g. You'd better slow down, or you'll burn out.
Refusing politely
I appreciate that, but…
e.g. I appreciate that, but I've already tried it.
Compare
| Situation | Wrong strength | Right strength |
|---|---|---|
| Friend has a mild cold. | You'd better see a doctor. | Too strong. Better: You could drink some hot lemon. |
| Friend ignores chest pain for a week. | You could rest. | Too weak. Better: You really ought to see a doctor — today. |
| Colleague asks for feedback on a habit. | You must stop. | Too bossy. Better: You might want to try a shorter session. |
Examples
- →
You could try drinking more water — that sometimes helps.
- →
You might want to see a doctor if it doesn't clear up.
- →
You should really cut back on caffeine.
- →
You'd better rest, or you'll make it worse.
- →
You really ought to speak to someone about this.
- →
I appreciate the advice, but I've already tried that.
Common mistakes
You should to see a doctor.
✓ You should see a doctor.
No 'to' after modals should/could/must.
You had better to rest.
✓ You'd better rest.
'Had better' takes bare infinitive.
You must to cut back.
✓ You must cut back. / You really should cut back.
'Must' is very strong; 'really should' is often more natural.
Natural English
'You might want to…' is one of the most useful B2 phrases in English. It sounds like a gentle nudge, not an order.
Deep dive (full explanation)
B2 speakers choose the strength of advice deliberately. 'You should' is neutral. 'You could' is a light suggestion. 'You might want to' is very diplomatic. 'You'd better' is a warning. 'You really ought to' is firm. Same content — very different tone. Refusing advice politely uses hedges too: 'I appreciate that, but…', 'I hear you, but…', 'I've thought about it, and…'.
Question 1.Softest advice:
Question 2.Most diplomatic:
Question 3.Strongest warning:
Question 4.Polite refusal:
Question 5.Correct grammar:
Build the sentence → spot the natural chunks → say it aloud → reply like a real conversation.
1.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
2.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
3.Rebuild the sentence — then say it aloud.
Quick check 1.Softest advice:
Quick check 2.Most diplomatic:
Vocabulary · §3
5–7 minWords & phrases to own
to cut back on
to reduce (something you do too much).
to burn out
to collapse from stress or overwork.
to bounce back
to recover quickly.
to look after yourself
to take care of your health.
worn out
extremely tired.
a warning sign
an early symptom telling you to stop.
to overdo it
to push yourself too hard.
to take it easy
to rest and slow down.
to run yourself into the ground
to exhaust yourself completely.
to keep an eye on
to monitor carefully.
Activate it now
Use each phrase in a real recommendation.
- Make it yours#1
Something you should cut back on this month — and why.
to cut back on - Your view#2
Is 'take it easy' good advice, or a way to give up?
to take it easy - Complete#3
Finish: 'The last time I overdid it, I ___ .'
to overdo it - Rank#4
Rank: worn out, burnt out, drained, run into the ground. Mild → severe.
worn outto burn outto run yourself into the ground - Discuss#5
What are two warning signs your body gives you when you're doing too much?
a warning sign
Tap an item on the left, then tap its match on the right.
Pronunciation · §4
3–4 minContractions in advice
'You'd better' is one syllable at the front — 'yəd BETter'. Full form 'You had better' sounds unnaturally formal in speech. Same with 'you might want to' → 'you might WANNA' in fast speech (informal).
- You'd BETter REST.
- You MIGHT WANT to SEE a DOCtor.
- You SHOULD really CUT back on CAFfeine.
- You REALly OUGHT to SPEAK to SOMEone.
Reading · §5
8–10 minHow to Give Advice People Actually Take
Listen to the passage
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
The reason most advice fails isn't that it's wrong — it's that it's delivered at the wrong volume. Someone with a mild headache doesn't need to be told they'd better see a doctor. Someone ignoring chest pain for a week doesn't need to be told they could try green tea. Good advisers — good friends, good managers, good doctors — match the strength of their language to the size of the problem. Small problem: 'You could try…'. Medium: 'You should probably…'. Bigger: 'You really ought to…'. Actual warning: 'You'd better…, or…'. The second half of good advice is knowing when not to give it. Sometimes the person didn't ask. Sometimes they've already tried what you're about to suggest. Sometimes they just want to talk. A useful opening question is: 'Do you want advice, or do you just want me to listen?' Half the time the answer is the second one. And if you're on the receiving end of unsolicited advice, English gives you polite exits. 'I appreciate that, but…' 'I hear you, but I've thought about it.' 'That's useful, thanks — I'll think about it.' None of these are rude; all of them close the conversation gently. Advice, at its best, is a small act of care. It only works if the strength, the timing and the exit are all right.
Question 1.According to the writer, why does most advice fail?
Question 2.What is the second half of good advice?
Question 3.What useful opening question does the writer suggest?
Question 4.What does the writer say about polite refusals?
Q1.The strength of the language should match the size of the problem.
Q2.Unsolicited advice is always welcome.
Q3.'I appreciate that, but…' is described as a polite exit.
Listening · §6
8–10 minTwo friends — one giving too much advice, the other pushing back (about 1:30)
Listening audio
Tap play to listen. Replay as many times as you need.
Show transcript
Liam:You look wrecked. You really ought to slow down.
Kate:I know, I know.
Liam:You could try switching your phone off after nine — and you should probably cut back on coffee too.
Kate:I appreciate that, but I've already tried both.
Liam:You might want to book a proper break — a weekend away.
Kate:I hear you, Liam. Honestly. But I don't need advice right now. I just need someone to sit with me.
Liam:Oh. Right. Sorry — I do that, don't I. Fix everything.
Kate:A bit. It comes from a good place.
Liam:Okay. Tea? No advice attached.
Kate:Tea sounds perfect.
Question 1.How does Liam start the conversation?
Question 2.How does Kate refuse the coffee/phone advice?
Question 3.What does Kate actually want?
Question 4.How does Liam adjust?
Exam skills · §7
5 minStrategy focus — Modal range in Speaking Part 3
Task
Part 3 often asks pairs to give advice or make recommendations together. Learners who only use 'should' cap themselves at B1.
Strategy
Rotate at least THREE strengths across your turns: one soft ('you could try'), one neutral ('you should'), one firm ('you really ought to' or 'you'd better'). Then add ONE hedge if the partner disagrees: 'I hear you, but…'.
Example
You could try switching your phone off in the evening — that helps a lot of people. You should probably cut back on caffeine too. And honestly, if you're this drained, you really ought to book a proper weekend off.
Practice · §8
8–10 minFill in the blank
Question 1.You ___ want to see a doctor if it doesn't clear up.
Question 2.You'd ___ slow down, or you'll burn out.
Question 3.You really ___ speak to someone about this.
Question 4.You ___ try cutting back on coffee — it sometimes helps.
Question 5.I ___ that, but I've already tried it.
Question 6.You should really ___ back on caffeine.
Q1.'You ___ want to book an appointment.' (soft, diplomatic)
Q2.'You'd ___ rest, or you'll get worse.' (warning)
Q3.'I ___ that, but I've already tried it.' (polite refusal)
Writing · §9
5 minPut it in writing
Your task
Write a 130–170 word reply to a friend who says they're constantly exhausted. Use at least FOUR advice structures of different strength AND one polite way of NOT giving advice.
Your answer
Show model answer
Hi Jamie, Honestly? Thanks for telling me — you don't usually admit when you're this worn out. Before I start giving advice, tell me what you actually want from this message. Sometimes you just need someone to hear you. If you do want ideas, here's what I'd say. You could try switching your phone off after nine — that made a huge difference for me. You should probably cut back on caffeine, at least in the afternoons. You might want to block out one proper screen-free evening a week too. And honestly, if this has been going on for months, you really ought to speak to your GP. You'd better take it seriously now, or you'll run yourself into the ground. But none of that is urgent tonight. Tonight, take it easy. We can talk properly at the weekend if you want. Love, Alex
Speaking · §10
10–15 minMake it a real conversation
ROLEPLAY — The Overworked Friend. Your partner (or teacher) tells you they haven't slept properly in weeks. Give advice using at least FOUR different strengths, and one polite refusal ('I hear you, but…'). Then swap.
Useful phrases
- • You could try…
- • You might want to…
- • You should probably…
- • You really ought to…
- • You'd better…, or…
- • I appreciate that, but…
- • I hear you, but…
- FriendI've been getting terrible headaches every afternoon.
- You_______________
- FriendI've already tried water. Nothing.
- You_______________
- FriendUgh, I hate doctors.
- You_______________
Optional · Teacher-led
Teacher Activities
Optional teacher-led activities. ~25 min total
Homework · §11
Take-homeTake it home
Write the 150-word reply above to a real or invented friend.
Record a 60-second voice note giving advice on a common problem (poor sleep, screen time, stress) using at least four strengths of advice.
Write true sentences using: cut back on, burn out, bounce back, take it easy, overdo it, warning sign, worn out, keep an eye on.
Find a 3-minute wellbeing advice clip. Note two advice modals you hear.
Recap · §12
2–3 minWhat you've learned
- You can choose the right strength of advice (could → should → ought to → 'd better).
- You can refuse advice politely with 'I appreciate that, but…' or 'I hear you, but…'.
- You can advise a friend about health and stress without sounding bossy.