Farming Scene 1 - Language Focus

Rob explains how to use ‘should’, ‘should have’ and some expressions used in giving directions.

Watch the video. Then go to Task and do the activities.

Task 1

Task 2

Task 3

Average: 4 (4 votes)

Submitted by Safe_Mode on Tue, 10/03/2026 - 05:55

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I've not quite got why should we say 'across the bridge'. Bridge is a line like river or path, can we say 'along the bridge'? Or it has a different meaning? Thank you!

Hello Safe_Mode,

Along and across have different meanings. Across takes you from one side to the other, so we say across a road, across a bridge, across a desert and across a field. Along means to follow a line, so we say along a path, along a street, along the edge of a field and so on.

Generally, we use a bridge to go from one side to the other so we say across. However, if you were not trying to go to the other side then you could say along a bridge. For example, if you were looking for something you lost on a bridge you might say 'We walked along the bridge, searching for the wallet'. Similarly, you might use along if you were painting the bridge or trying to find the optimum place to take a photo.

 

Peter

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by May Thida Su on Sat, 17/04/2021 - 15:07

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I want to know Can I use " should've taken my umbrella " instead for " should've brought my umbrella " ?

Hello May Thida Su,

We use 'bring' to speak about moving something to the place we or the person we are speaking to are located. So if you are talking about the moment of speaking -- for example, it's started to rain and you don't have an umbrella -- then 'I should've brought my umbrella' is correct (and 'taken' is not).

We use 'take' to speak about moving something to a place that is different from where we or the person we are speaking to are located. So if you are talking about a past situation -- for example, yesterday when you went to the market and it rained but you had no umbrella -- then the 'taken' form would be the correct one.

You might find this explanation of 'bring' and 'take' useful.

All the best,

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Bara on Thu, 26/03/2020 - 11:05

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Hi Team, please Help me..... I don´t understand the difference between : For example: You should have taken an umbrella. - You should take an umbrella.
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Submitted by Kirk Moore on Thu, 26/03/2020 - 14:23

In reply to by Bara

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Hello Bara

The difference between 'should' and 'should have' is explained on our Modals with 'have' page. Here, 'you should take' is referring to the present or future (for example, imagine that you know it is raining and you see that I'm leaving the house -- this would be a time to say 'you should take') and 'you should have taken' refers to the past (for example, if I come home wet from the rain, you could tell me 'you should have taken').

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Stephane on Wed, 06/02/2019 - 17:25

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Hi the team, What did Steven say at the end of the video ? Best regards, Stéphane

Hello Stephane

He says 'It's matasak, in Persian.' and then 'I'll see you later, Rob.'

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

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Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 25/07/2019 - 12:25

In reply to by Stephane

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MATARSAK

Submitted by M.A.KH on Sat, 27/10/2018 - 07:57

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Why we say " Pietro didn't pass his exam. he shuld have studied harder " and we don't say " he should has studied harder " . thanks
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