OUGHT TO

OUGHT TO

The use of OUGHT TO is similar to SHOULD, but it is much less frequent.

OUGHT TO does not have a past form. It is only used in the present and future tenses.

OUGHT TO is rarely used in questions and negatives. When it is, it is confined mainly to formal styles.

In questions, the subject comes between ought and to.

In negatives, NOT comes between OUGHT  and TO.

Ex: I ought not to have said those things to her.

In questions and negatives, SHOULD is frequently used instead of OUGHT TO because it sounds more natural.

Ex:

I have a stomachache. Ought I to see a doctor?/ Should I see a doctor?

Uses:

1.Use OUGHT TO to express moral duty, an obligation or a necessity that someone should do something.

You ought to take care of your parents.

We ought to leave now.

2. Use OUGHT TO to express an expectation (which hasn’t happened)

My sister ought to be here by now.

This game ought to be fun.

3. Use OUGHT TO to express advice

I think you ought to go now.

You ought to listen carefully.

4. Use OUGHT TO to express criticism about past behavior (Ought to + have + past participle of main verb)

She ought to have offered to help you.

You ought to have told me what to expect.

Read more about:

Модални глаголи 😃 Modal verbs

CAN - COULD
MAY - MIGHT
WILL
WOULD
SHALL
SHOULD
MUST
DARE
OUGHT TO
HAD BETTER
NEED
BE ABLE TO