LOCK TAO SECONDARY SCHOOL

English Language 2023–2024

Writing 3: A Letter of Advice
Language Focus
Name: __________________________ Secondary 4

Class: ____________________ (E ) Date: ___________________

Class No.: _______________________ Total number of pages: 6

Language Practice
Simple Present Tense

1. Use the simple present tense to give advice, offer sympathy, make suggestions and express your
thoughts.
e.g. .I suggest that you apply for a job first.
I think you should tell your parents about your plan.
I believe that you can succeed.
I advise you to work harder on English.

Simple Present Tense

Exercise: Write your own sentences using the simple present tense of the verbs in brackets.

E.g. Your academic performance is not satisfactory. I suggest that you ask your teacher for help.
(suggest)

1. You have eaten too much and are overweight. I think you should do some exercises. (think)

2. You said you didn’t talk much with your parents. I believe you can spend time with them. (believe)

3. It is going to rain today. When you leave home, I suggest you bring an umbrella with you. (suggest)

Modal verbs
Modal verbs are used to express obligation and advice
1. Should, ought to
To give or ask for advice and to say what we think is right for people to do. The negative forms are
should not (shouldn’t) and ought not to (oughtn’t to):
e.g. You ought to visit your grandmother more often.
e.g. She shouldn’t wear that dress. It’s too long.

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 e.g. Everyone should be kind to animals.
Exercise: Read about these situations and give advice using should, ought to, shouldn’t or ought not to.
Follow the example.

consume any unhealthy snacks use mobile phones in the library

do her homework by herself visit the restaurant again
fix another date watch too much TV

e.g. Mandy and Leo had stomach aches after eating at Wealthy Restaurant.

They should not / ought not to visit the restaurant again.

1. Lucy always copies homework from her classmates.

She should/ought to do her homework by herself.

2. The two men are talking on the phone loudly. It’s very disturbing.
They should not/ought not to use mobile phones in the library.

3. My nephews love watching animations on TV. They can watch five to six hours a day.
They shouldn’t/ought not to watch too much TV

4. Mr Lo is sick and cannot join the meeting.

We should/ought to fix another date.

Modal verbs (Level-Up)

Modal verbs are used to express possibility.
2. Could, might, may, can
We use the modals can, may, might and could to express possibility. They imply degrees of possibility.

e.g. I can finish the project today. I just need some time for proofreading.

I may finish the project today. I’m already writing the conclusion.

I might finish the project today. I still have to find the right pictures for it.

I’m just halfway through the project. I could finish today but tomorrow looks more likely.

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Exercise: Complete the conversations with ‘can’, ‘may’, ‘might’ or ‘could’ and the verbs in brackets.

1. A: We’re going camping during the Easter holiday. Will you join us?

B: I could join (join) you. My dad usually does not allow me to stay out overnight.

2. A: I need to set up a reception counter at the school entrance tomorrow morning.

B: Don’t worry. I can come (come) early and help you as I live very close to the school.

3. A: Have you decided what to buy for your mother on Mother’s Day?

B: Not yet. I may/might buy (buy) her some flowers, but I’ll get another present if the flowers are too
expensive.

Connectives
Connectives are used to link related pieces of advice and give additional advice

1. To introduce further information

(as well as, for example, furthermore, in addition)
e.g. Doing exercises as well as listening to music can cheer you up.
.You may try different activities in school, for example, the Swimming Club.
.Too much stress is harmful. Furthermore/In addition, we should find ways to relax.

Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences with the given words.

e.g. Eating geolocates helps us relax. Chocolates have a high level of energy. (In addition)

Eating chocolates helps us relax. In addition, chocolates have a high level of energy.

1. The title of the letter is missing. It does not include the closing. (Furthermore)
The title of the letter is missing. Furthermore, it does not include the closing.

2. 3B students will come to the school hall. 4C students will come to the school hall. (as well as)
3B students as well as 4C students will come to the school hall.

3. The cheering team had a good performance. The Principal had an inspiring speech. (In addition)
The cheering team had a good performance. In addition, the Principal had an inspiring speech.

4. As a good students, we always hand in our homework. Furthermore, (Write your own sentences)
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2. To give a reason or result
(as a result, because, due to, therefore)
e.g. She eats too much food. As a result, she becomes overweight.
.Due to the rain, we cancelled the trip.

Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences with the given words.

e.g. The movie is boring. No one wants to see it. (As a result)

The movie is boring. As a result, no one wants to see it.

1. Mandy was naughty. She was punished by Mr. Kim. (because)

Mandy was punished by Mr. Kim because she was naughty.

2. The exam is coming. Everyone is studying hard. (therefore)

The exam is coming. Therefore, everyone is studying hard.

3. Edwin has too much stress. He has to ask the teacher for help. (As a result)
Edwin has too much stress. As a result, he has to ask the teacher for help.

4. There was a heavy rain. We all got wet. (Due to)

Due to the heavy rain, we all got wet.

Conditionals
Type 1 Conditional
We use Type 1 conditional sentences to talk about real and possible situations.

Pattern:
If-clause (situation) Main Clause (result)
Simple present tense Simple future tense
(will/can/may+ bare infinitive)

Examples:
1. If you work hard, you will pass your exam.

2. They will get wet if they don’t take an umbrella.

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Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences with the given words.

1. You get up earlier. You will not be late for school.

_If you get up earlier, you will not be late for school.

2. You check your work carefully. You will not make so many mistakes.

If you check your work carefully, you will not make so many mistakes.

3. We will gain extra pocket money. We take a part-time job.

If we take a part-time job, we will gain extra pocket money.

4. We will learn another culture. We study overseas.

If we study overseas, we will learn another culture.

Type 2 Conditional
We use Type 2 conditional sentences to talk about unreal situations.

Pattern:
If-clause (situation) Main Clause (result)
Simple past tense (would+ bare infinitive)

Examples:
3. If you work hard, you will pass your exam.

4. They will get wet if they don’t take an umbrella.

Exercise: Rewrite the following sentences with the given words.

1. I have magic power. I turn a rabbit into a fish.

I would turn a rabbit into a fish if I had magic power.

2. I am an architect. I design my own house.

I would design my own house if I were an architect.

3. The air is fresher. There are not any factories.

The air would be fresher if there were not any factories.

4. She wins the lottery. She buys an island.

If she won the lottery, she would buy an island.

5. He has a car. He never takes the MTR again

If he had a car., he would never take the MTR again.

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 Level Up
(1) Questions to make suggestions
e.g. Why not give it a try?
Why don’t you seek help from teachers?
How about doing voluntary work?

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with suitable question words.

A: My Chinese language result is not satisfactory. I feel really upset.

B: Why don’t you find a tutor to help you with it?

A: There are plenty of choices for our school trip.

B: How about going to the Ocean Park?

A: I think my parents don’t understand me much. I want to be a singer but they hope that I will become a
doctor.
B: Why not have more communication with them first? Tell them about what you think and listen to their
advice.

(2) Imperative to give advice

We can use imperatives (e.g. start, make, go, find out, stop, think) to give advice and make suggestions.
e.g. Stop worrying too much and find some ways to relax.

We form imperatives using the bare infinitive.

e.g. Join some clubs at school that interest you.

To form the negative, add do not/don’t before the bare infinitive.

e.g. Don’t feel guilty about your jealousy.
e.g. Don’t pretend to be someone you are not.

Exercise: Write your own sentences using imperatives.

1. You are already late for school. ______________________________________________________
2. Don’t worry too much about your exam. _______________________________________________
3. You said that you don’t have lots of friends at school. ______________________________________
4. Doing exercises can reduce stress. _____________________________________________________

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