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  • Modals Ought To

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    We use 'ought to' to express duty or moral obligation, such as calling your parents or doing work instead of sitting around. The suggestion is less forceful than with 'must'. We also use 'ought to' to indicate what is probable or reasonably expected, like a weather forecast saying it ought to be fine. When used with a perfect infinitive, 'ought to' refers to past expectations that were or were not fulfilled, and can express an unfulfilled duty or obligation and imply criticism.

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    Modals Ought To

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    We use 'ought to' to express duty or moral obligation, such as calling your parents or doing work instead of sitting around. The suggestion is less forceful than with 'must'. We also use 'ought to' to indicate what is probable or reasonably expected, like a weather forecast saying it ought to be fine. When used with a perfect infinitive, 'ought to' refers to past expectations that were or were not fulfilled, and can express an unfulfilled duty or obligation and imply criticism.

    Copyright:

    Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
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    77 views1 page

    Modals Ought To

    Uploaded by

    EnglishTutr
    We use 'ought to' to express duty or moral obligation, such as calling your parents or doing work instead of sitting around. The suggestion is less forceful than with 'must'. We also use 'ought to' to indicate what is probable or reasonably expected, like a weather forecast saying it ought to be fine. When used with a perfect infinitive, 'ought to' refers to past expectations that were or were not fulfilled, and can express an unfulfilled duty or obligation and imply criticism.

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    MODALS: OUGHT TO

    1. We use ought to to express duty, moral obligation. You ought to phone your parents at once. You ought to be working, why are you sitting here doing nothing. The advice constructed with ought to is much less forceful than the one with must. Compare: You ought to mind the traffic rules. You must mind the traffic rules. Suggestion, advice may also be conveyed by had better (= it would be advisable or right to). This form is stronger, than ought to. She had better work harder. (implied threat)

    2. We use ought to to indicate what is regarded as probable or what may reasonably be expected. The weather forecast says it ought to be fine today. When ought to is followed by Perfect Infinitive, it refers to expectations in the past which were or were not fulfilled. There ought to have been a lot of people at the match. Ought to followed by Perfect Infinitive may express an unfulfilled duty or obligation, criticism. Paul ought to have waited until the lights were green before he crossed the street. (But he didn't wait.)

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