Should and Shouldn’t Exercises for Grade 6 with Answers

Should and shouldn’t are important grammar structures that help sixth-grade students give advice, make suggestions, and talk about things people should or should not do. Learning how to use these modal verbs correctly can improve students’ English grammar and help them communicate more confidently in everyday situations.

This article provides a collection of should and shouldn’t exercises for Grade 6, including fill-in-the-blank questions, multiple-choice exercises, sentence writing, and grammar practice based on familiar topics. Students can review the rules, complete the exercises, and check their answers to identify areas for improvement.

Should and Shouldn’t Grammar Rules for Grade 6

What Do Should and Shouldn’t Mean?

Should is a modal verb used to give advice, make suggestions, or say that something is a good idea.

Shouldn’t, the short form of should not, is used to advise someone against doing something.

Examples:

• You should drink enough water every day.
• Students should do their homework regularly.
• You shouldn’t stay up too late.
• We shouldn’t throw rubbish into rivers.

These structures are commonly used when talking about health, school, family, the environment, and daily routines.

Should and Shouldn’t: Sentence Structures

Examples:

• Affirmative: She should eat more fruit.
• Negative: She shouldn’t eat too much candy.
• Question: Should she go to bed early?
• Short answer: Yes, she should.

Important: Always use the base form of the verb after should and shouldn’t. Do not add to, -s, -es, -ing, or -ed to the main verb.

The Difference Between Should and Must

Both should and must express ideas about what people need to do, but they have different meanings.

For example, “You should study harder” is advice. In contrast, “You must wear a helmet” emphasises a requirement in the situation being described.

Should and Shouldn’t Exercises for Grade 6 with Answers

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete each sentence with should or shouldn’t.

1. You have a headache. You ______ get some rest.
2. Nam eats too much fast food. He ______ eat more vegetables.
3. Students ______ make noise while the teacher is speaking.
4. We ______ turn off the lights when leaving a room.
5. You feel tired. You ______ take a short break.
6. Children ______ brush their teeth before going to bed.
7. People ______ throw rubbish into the lake.
8. You have an important test tomorrow. You ______ stay up all night playing games.

Answers

1. should
2. should
3. shouldn’t
4. should
5. should
6. should
7. shouldn’t
8. shouldn’t

Exercise 2: Multiple-Choice Questions

Choose the correct answer.

1. You have a sore throat. You ______ drink some warm water.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t
   C. should to
2. Students ______ copy their classmates’ answers during a test.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t
   C. shoulds
3. We ______ plant more trees to protect the environment.
   A. shouldn’t
   B. should
   C. must to
4. ______ I ask my teacher for help?
   A. Do should
   B. Should
   C. Should to
5. My brother ______ go to bed late because he has to get up early.
   A. shouldn’t
   B. should
   C. don’t should

Answers and Explanations

Exercise 3: Should and Shouldn’t at School

Complete the sentences with should or shouldn’t.

1. Students ______ arrive at school on time.
2. You ______ forget to bring your books to class.
3. We ______ listen carefully to our teachers.
4. Students ______ run in the corridors.
5. You ______ ask questions when you do not understand a lesson.
6. We ______ keep our classroom clean.

Answers: 1. should; 2. shouldn’t; 3. should; 4. shouldn’t; 5. should; 6. should.

Exercise 4: Should and Shouldn’t for Healthy Living

Fill in each blank with should or shouldn’t.

1. You ______ eat a balanced diet.
2. Children ______ spend too much time sitting in front of a screen.
3. We ______ exercise regularly.
4. You ______ ignore a serious health problem.
5. People ______ get enough sleep every night.
6. You ______ eat too many sweets.

Answers: 1. should; 2. shouldn’t; 3. should; 4. shouldn’t; 5. should; 6. shouldn’t.

Exercise 5: Should and Shouldn’t for the Environment

Complete the following sentences.

1. We ______ recycle paper and plastic bottles.
2. People ______ waste clean water.
3. Students ______ plant trees at school.
4. You ______ leave rubbish on the beach.
5. Everyone ______ use reusable shopping bags.
6. We ______ burn plastic waste.

Answers: 1. should; 2. shouldn’t; 3. should; 4. shouldn’t; 5. should; 6. shouldn’t.

Exercise 6: Write Sentences Using Should and Shouldn’t

Use the prompts to write complete sentences.

1. Lan / study harder / for the English test.
2. You / eat / too much fast food.
3. We / save water / at home.
4. Children / play / near a busy road.
5. Nam / go to bed early / before the exam.

Suggested Answers

1. Lan should study harder for the English test.
2. You shouldn’t eat too much fast food.
3. We should save water at home.
4. Children shouldn’t play near a busy road.
5. Nam should go to bed early before the exam.

Note: Other answers may also be acceptable if they are grammatically correct and convey the intended meaning.

Exercise 7: Rewrite Sentences Using Should and Shouldn’t

Rewrite the sentences using the word in brackets.

1. It is a good idea for you to drink more water. (should)
2. It is not a good idea to stay up late. (shouldn’t)
3. I advise Nam to practise speaking English every day. (should)
4. It is not good for children to spend all day playing games. (shouldn’t)
5. I think we need to protect wild animals. (should)

Suggested Answers

1. You should drink more water.
2. You shouldn’t stay up late.
3. Nam should practise speaking English every day.
4. Children shouldn’t spend all day playing games.
5. We should protect wild animals.

Should and Shouldn’t Exercises for Grade 6 Global Success

Students following the Grade 6 English curriculum can practise these structures through familiar topics such as health, school life, community activities, and environmental protection. Context-based exercises help students understand how grammar works in everyday communication rather than simply memorising formulas.

Context-Based Practice

Choose the correct answer.

1. Your friend feels sick but wants to play football. He ______ stay at home and rest.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t
2. Your school is organising a clean-up day. Students ______ join the activity.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t
3. There is a sign saying “Keep off the grass.” Visitors ______ walk on the grass.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t
4. Your sister has an English test tomorrow. She ______ review her lessons.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t
5. Your classmates use reusable water bottles. You ______ do the same to reduce plastic waste.
   A. should
   B. shouldn’t

Answers and Explanations

Tips for Practising Grade 6 English Grammar

To improve your performance in should and shouldn’t exercises, follow these tips:

• Read the context carefully. Decide whether the action is advisable or should be avoided.
• Remember the grammar rule. Use the base form of the verb after should and shouldn’t.
• Understand the meaning. Choose an answer based on the whole sentence rather than a single word.
• Practise different question types. Combine multiple-choice questions, gap-filling tasks, sentence writing, and short dialogues.
• Review your mistakes. Check incorrect answers and explain why the correct option fits the context.

Should You Use Extra Grade 6 English Practice Materials?

Students searching for additional should and shouldn’t exercises may find worksheets, revision materials, and practice tests shared by teachers or educational websites.

These resources can provide extra practice, but it is important to check whether the exercises match the student’s current curriculum and level.

Benefits of using additional practice materials

• Exposure to a wider range of question types.
• More opportunities to practise grammar outside the classroom.
• Familiarity with different exercise formats.

Things to consider

• The quality of materials may vary.
• Some exercises may be too easy or too difficult.
• Answers and explanations should be checked for accuracy.

For effective learning, start with classroom lessons and textbook exercises, then move on to suitable supplementary materials. Avoid memorising answer keys without understanding the grammar behind them.

Common Mistakes in Should and Shouldn’t Exercises

Adding “To” After Should

Incorrect: You should to study harder.

Correct: You should study harder.

Should is a modal verb, so the main verb does not take “to” after it.

Changing the Verb According to the Subject

Incorrect: She should goes to school early.

Correct: She should go to school early.

The main verb remains in its base form, even when the subject is he, she, or it.

Using the Wrong Negative Form

Incorrect: You don’t should eat too much candy.

Correct: You shouldn’t eat too much candy.

The standard negative form is shouldn’t or should not.

Confusing Should with Must

Should is generally used for advice and suggestions, while must expresses obligation or a strong requirement.

• You should exercise more.
• You must follow the safety rules.

Look at the context carefully to decide which modal verb best expresses the intended meaning.

Final Study Tips

To master should and shouldn’t, Grade 6 students should combine grammar revision with regular practice in different situations. Exercises involving gap filling, multiple-choice questions, and sentence writing help reinforce the rules and develop practical language skills.

After completing these should and shouldn’t exercises for Grade 6 with answers, review your mistakes and practise similar questions. Understanding why an answer is correct is more effective than memorising the answer alone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can We Use V-ing After Should?

No. Should must be followed by the base form of a verb without “to”.

Correct: You should study harder.

Incorrect: You should studying harder.

Does Should Change According to the Subject?

No. Should remains the same with I, you, he, she, it, we, and they.

Examples:

• I should exercise.
• She should exercise.
• They should exercise.

What Is the Difference Between Should and Ought To?

Both structures can give advice and are often interchangeable.

Examples:

• You should see a doctor.
• You ought to see a doctor.

Should is more common in everyday English and is a useful structure for Grade 6 learners to master first.

Can We Use Should in Questions?

Yes. The question structure is:

Should + subject + base verb?

Example: Should I ask my teacher for help?

Short answers include “Yes, you should” and “No, you shouldn’t”.

Can Should Be Used with Every Subject?

Yes. Should is a modal verb that does not change according to the subject. The main verb following it always stays in its base form.

Examples:

• He should study harder.
• I should study harder.
• They should study harder.

Remember not to write “He should studies harder”.

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