Advice and warnings: should, had better
Use should + base verb for advice ("You should back up your photos"), and had better for a stronger warning ("You had better check the weather"). Both take the base verb; the negative is had better not.
Read the sentences below, then practice the whole lesson with audio.
- 1You should always back up your photos to the cloud before you change phones.
- 2We should use reusable bags to cut down on plastic waste.
- 3If you plan a hike, you had better check the weather first.
- 4She should end her day with some light stretching.
- 5Travelers should share their itinerary with a family member.
- 6Parents should set clear screen-time rules at home.
- 7You had better not drink coffee late at night.
- 8To stay healthy, you should take short walks during breaks.
- 9If you don’t want traffic, you had better leave before rush hour.
- 10When you ride a bike, you had better wear a helmet.
- 11You should label your luggage with your phone number.
- 12You had better bring a light jacket for the evening breeze.
- 13You should charge your phone fully before a long flight.
- 14If your stomach is sensitive, you had better avoid very spicy food.
- 15You should keep receipts in case you need a refund.
FAQ
- How does this dictation practice work?
- Play a sentence, type exactly what you hear, then press check — Dictation Trainer shows word-level feedback: which words you misheard, misspelled, confused for a homophone, or missed.
- Do I need an account, and is it free?
- You can read the sentences here without signing up. To practice with audio and save progress, create a free account — practice runs on Echoes you earn for free, starting with 100.
- What level is this lesson?
- This lesson is graded A2 on the CEFR scale and has 15 sentences. Dictation Trainer lessons currently run from A1 to B2, with more lessons on the way.