🗣️ Speaking: Functional Language B1 - Lesson 2: Giving Advice & Warnings
Welcome! In our daily conversations, we often need to help people by giving them good advice or warning them about danger. Today, you will learn the correct phrases to do this politely and effectively.
Conversation Scenario: A Tourist in Kampot
Giving good advice1 is helpful. Giving a clear warning2 can keep someone safe. Let's see how a local person helps a tourist near the Durian Roundabout in Kampot.
Tourist: Excuse me, I want to rent a motorbike to ride up Bokor Mountain this afternoon.
Local: That's a great trip! But you should3 check the weather first. The rain can come very suddenly.
Tourist: That's good advice, thank you. Is the road dangerous?
Local: The road is good, but be careful4 of the monkeys! Whatever you do, don't feed them. You'd better5 just keep your distance.
Tourist: Wow, I had no idea. Thanks so much for the warning!
Giving Advice: Phrases to Help
When you want to suggest a good idea or course of action, use these phrases:
- You should... / You shouldn't... (This is the most common way.)
- If I were you, I would... (This is friendly and more personal.)
- You ought to... (This is a bit more formal than 'should'.)
Giving Warnings: Phrases for Safety
When you need to tell someone about a risk or danger, your tone should be more serious. Use these phrases:
- Be careful of... / Be careful when you...
- Watch out! / Look out! (Use these for immediate danger.)
- You'd better... / You'd better not... (This is strong advice that works as a warning.)
🎤 Pronunciation: Your Tone of Voice
The 'music' of your voice is very important here. It tells the listener how you feel.
For Advice: Use a friendly, helpful, falling intonation. It's a suggestion, not a command.
Example: "You should try the seafood in Kep. ➘"
For a Warning: Use a stronger, more serious, and sharp falling intonation. This shows the situation is important.
Example: "Be careful on that bridge. ➘"
🧠 Practice Quiz: Advice or Warning?
Read the situations. Decide if you would give advice or a warning. What would you say?
1. Your friend has a very important exam tomorrow but is planning to watch movies all night.
→ Function: Advice. Phrase: "You shouldn't watch movies all night. If I were you, I would get some sleep."
2. You see a tourist about to step on a very slippery, mossy stone near a waterfall.
→ Function: Warning. Phrase: "Watch out! Be careful, that rock is slippery."
📝 Your Mission: Be a Helpful Guide
This week in your town, whether it's Kampot, Battambang, or somewhere else, your mission is to use this functional language.
- Give Advice: Find one real situation to give someone friendly advice. For example, if a classmate is confused, say, "You should ask the teacher for help."
- Give a Warning: If you see a safe opportunity, give a small, helpful warning. For example, to a friend on a motorbike, "Be careful, the traffic is busy today."
Vocabulary Glossary
- Advice: (Noun) - ដំបូន្មាន (dâm'boun'mean) - An opinion you give someone about what they should do. ↩
- Warning: (Noun) - ការព្រមាន (kaa prɔɔ'mean) - A statement telling someone about a possible danger or problem. ↩
- You should: (Phrase) - អ្នកគួរតែ (neăk kuŏr tae) - Used to say that something is the right or best thing to do. ↩
- Be careful: (Phrase) - ប្រយ័ត្ន (prâ'yăt) - A command telling someone to act safely and avoid danger. ↩
- You'd better: (Phrase) - អ្នកគួរតែ (neăk kuŏr tae) - A way to give strong advice to avoid a negative result. ↩