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Lesson 198 of 240

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Giving advice in English

Ana is working late on sketches for Marcus. Tasha sees she is tired and wants to help.

Tonight they sit in a booth at the Blue Plate. Tasha has some friendly advice.

By the end, you'll tell a friend what they should do. You'll also say why they should wait, and you'll tell them not to push too hard.

These lines are for giving advice. They are not orders. They stay kind.

By the end of this lesson

Give a friend kind advice, and tell them not to push too hard.

  • You should ___.It's a good idea for you to do this.
  • Why don't you ___?Have you thought about doing this?
  • If I were you, I'd wait.My advice would be to wait.
  • You might want to ask first.It's smart to check before you act.
  • Don't push yourself too hard.Don't try to do more than you can.
  • I'd give that a try.I think you should try it.

Scene — sketches on the table

Ana has her tote on the booth seat. Sketches for the library job sit on the table. She looks tired.

Tasha sits across from her with iced coffee. Dee is at the counter. The jukebox by the door stays quiet.

Ana sits tired in a diner booth with her tote and library sketches while Tasha joins her with iced coffee and Dee works at the counter.

Learn — friendly advice

Six lines help you give friendly advice. You will hear should, why don't you, and if I were you.

You'll also tell a friend not to push too hard.

  1. Ana looks worn out as Tasha leans toward her and asks how late she stayed awake.

    You should ___.

    It's a good idea for you to do this.

    When to use it: Say this when you want someone to do a thing.

    After should, name the action you want them to do.

  2. Tasha gives Ana a gentle caution as Ana pauses over the sketches she still has to finish.

    Why don't you ___?

    Have you thought about doing this?

    When to use it: Use this to offer a friendly idea, not a real why.

    This looks like a question, but it is a suggestion.

    Say it: In don't you, the t and y can blend into a ch sound.

  3. Tasha recommends waiting, and Ana considers whether she means to check with her boss first.

    If I were you, I'd wait.

    My advice would be to wait.

    When to use it: Say this when you imagine you are in their place.

    Use were with I in this line, not was.

    Say it: I'd sounds short, like one word.

  4. Tasha asks Ana to consider leaving the sketches there for the night, and Ana thinks about resting.

    You might want to ask first.

    It's smart to check before you act.

    When to use it: Use this for soft advice when they still choose.

    Might want to is softer than should.

    Say it: to can sound like tuh.

  5. At the counter, Dee offers Ana more coffee, and Ana politely declines while Tasha remains nearby.

    Don't push yourself too hard.

    Don't try to do more than you can.

    When to use it: Say this when a friend is doing too much.

    Too hard means more than is good for you.

    Say it: In yourself, the stress is on self.

  6. Tasha encourages Ana to try a short walk, and Ana listens from the booth near the aisle.

    I'd give that a try.

    I think you should try it.

    When to use it: Say this when you like their idea and want them to try.

    Give that a try means try it, as one piece.

Story — tasha says wait

Tasha sees Ana working too hard on the sketches. She gives advice, and Ana takes it kindly.

The highlighted words are the lines you just learned.

  1. The sketches sit under the lamp. Ana rubs her eyes.
  2. TashaYou look tired, Ana. How late were you up?She says Ana looks tired and asks how late she stayed up.
  3. AnaI was up until two. I still have three sketches.She stayed awake until two and still has three sketches left.
  4. TashaDon't push yourself too hard.Don't try to do more than you can.
  5. AnaWhat should I do?Tell me the next step
  6. Tasha looks at the papers, then at Ana.
  7. TashaIf I were you, I'd wait.My advice would be to wait.
  8. AnaWait for Marcus?She checks if Tasha means wait for her boss.
  9. TashaYou might want to ask first.It's smart to check before you act.
  10. AnaThat makes sense.I understand and I accept that idea.
  11. TashaWhy don't you leave the sketches here tonight?Have you thought about leaving the sketches here tonight?
  12. AnaAnd then sleep?She checks if the next step is sleep.
  13. TashaYou should rest.It's a good idea for you to rest.
  14. AnaI could try a short walk first.She offers a short walk as a first step.
  15. TashaI'd give that a try.I think you should try it.
  16. Dee walks over with the coffee pot. The jukebox stays quiet.
  17. DeeMore coffee, hon?Dee offers more coffee.
  18. AnaI'm okay, Dee.She does not want more coffee.
  19. TashaSleep, then ask him in the morning.Tasha tells her to sleep, then talk to Marcus.
  20. AnaI will. Thanks.Ana agrees and thanks her.

Practice — choose the advice

Ten short exercises wait here. You'll listen, pick, fill a gap, and build a line.

You will also choose the right advice for a friend.

0 of 10 done

  1. What did you hear?

  2. Match the pairs

    English

    If I were you, I'd wait.Drop the Simple English here
    You might want to ask first.Drop the Simple English here
    Don't push yourself too hard.Drop the Simple English here
    I'd give that a try.Drop the Simple English here

    Simple English

    Drag a Simple English line onto its English, or tap one and then the other.

  3. What do you say?

    Ana is still drawing at the diner after a long day. She looks very tired.

  4. What does it mean?

    If I were you, I'd wait.

  5. Fill the gap

    It's a good idea for you to do this.

    You ____ ___.

  6. Build the line

    I think you should try it.

    .

    Tap the words in order.

  7. Find the mistake

  8. Swap the word

    Ana is about to send the sketches without talking to Marcus.

    You might want to ask ____.

  9. True or false?

    This line means you do not agree.

  10. What do you say?

    You cannot decide about the sketches. Ask your friend for the next step.

Say it — advise a friend

Now you're Ana. Tasha is tired from the bakery. When it's your turn, tap the microphone and speak.

Tap play first if you want to hear the line. Your recording stays on your device.

  1. TashaI was at the bakery until nine. I still want to bake more at home.She worked late and still wants to bake at home.
  2. Ana (you)Tell her not to try more than she can.

    Don't push yourself too hard.

    Don't try to do more than you can.

0 of 5 said

Recap — what you can say now

EnglishSimple English
You should ___.It's a good idea for you to do this.
Why don't you ___?Have you thought about doing this?
If I were you, I'd wait.My advice would be to wait.
You might want to ask first.It's smart to check before you act.
Don't push yourself too hard.Don't try to do more than you can.
I'd give that a try.I think you should try it.
Next: lesson 199Asking for a recommendation

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