OUGHT TO /SHOULD

Ought to, as well as should, has only one form which is used with reference to the present
or future. In reported speech they remain unchanged.
Ought to is always followed by the infinitive with particle to; should – without to.

Ought to and should have the following meanings:

Obligation (advisability, desirability) (+, -, ?)

(слід, треба, потрібно)
Ought to Should
ought to + simple infinitive – refers the should + simple infinitive – refers the action
action to the future or present (only with to the future or present (only with stative
stative verbs) verbs)
E. g. I think for your wife and children's E. g. You should go to bed. (future)
sake you ought to have a try. (future) E. g. You shouldn’t feel so unhappy over
E. g. You ought to feel some respect to your such trifles. (present)
elders. (present)

ought to + continuous infinitive – refers the should + continuous infinitive – refers the
action to the present action to the present
E. g. At your age you ought to be earning E. g. You shouldn’t be sitting in the sun.
your living. (present) Move out of it into the shade. (present)

ought to + perfect infinitive (+) – shows
that a desirable action was not fulfilled
E. g. You ought to have told me about it.
(Вам слід було (потрібно було) сказати
мені про це)
should + perfect infinitive (+) – shows that
a desirable action was not fulfilled
E. g. You should have told me about it.
(Вам слід було (потрібно було) сказати
мені про це)

ought to + perfect infinitive (-) – shows that should + perfect infinitive (-) – shows that
an undesirable action was fulfilled an undesirable action was fulfilled
E. g. You ought not to have mentioned it. – E. g. You should not have mentioned it. –
Вам не слід було (не потрібно було) Вам не слід було (не потрібно було)
згадувати про це. згадувати про це.
Supposition implying strong probability (+)
(ймовірно, очевидно, вочевидь, напевне)
Ought to Should
ought to + simple infinitive – refers the should + simple infinitive – refers the action
action to the present to the present
E. g. The new house ought to be very E. g. The film should be very good as it is
comfortable. starring first-class actors.
The use of ought to and should is not very common in this meaning as this meaning is
usually rendered by must

We can use had better instead of should/ ought to, especially in spoken English, to say
that we think it would be sensible or advisable to do something. However, we don’t use it
 to talk about the past or to make general comments.

E.g. If you’re not well, you should/ought to ask Ann to go instead. - If you’re not well, you
had better ask Ann to go instead.
E. g. I don’t think parents should/ ought to give their children sweets. (not … had better…)
(general comment)

MUST, SHOULD, OUGHT TO and TO BE TO compared:

Obligation
Must Should Ought to
 more forceful express moral obligation (advisability, desirability)
 is common in  more emphatic, more
instructions and corrections stress on the moral
obligation
Supposition implying strong probability
Must Should Ought to
 more frequent in this
meaning

COMPARE:

Should + perfect infinitive Ought to + perfect Was (were) to + perfect

infinitive infinitive
 The action has not been carried out though it was  The action hasn’t
desirable. been carried out though it
was planned.
E. g. You should/ought to have helped me. (Now I am in E. g. He was to have come
trouble) to Kyiv last week. (But his
plans were upset and he
didn’t)

EXERCISES

Exercise 1. Comment on the form and the meaning of the modal verbs ought to
and should. Translate the sentences into Ukrainian.
1. There are people who think they ought to be reformed. 2. We all know that things
are not always what they ought to be. 3. You ought to do something, you know; it’ll be fatal
for you to have nothing to do. 4. Have I said anything I oughtn't? 5. “I ought to have told
Soames,” he thought, “that I think him comic.” 6. I suppose she is right. I oughtn't to have
tried to speak to her! 7. By the end of the evening I almost felt that I ought to call him
“Uncle Jack.” 8. It’ll be lovely round there today. — Yes, it ought to be quite nice. 9. It is the
last of the Madeira I had from Mr. Jolyon when we came in here; it ought to be in prime
condition still. 10. Can you show me any English woman who speaks English as it should be
spoken? 11. A wife should obey her husband. 12. Besides you shouldn’t cut your old friends
now that you have risen in the world. 13. They should be taught a lesson. 14. I confess I did
not foresee this turn of events. But I should have foreseen it. 15. You have discovered what I
intended you should never have known. 16. He should not have said it. The moment the
words crossed his lips he knew it was not the right thing to say. 17. Considerable debate took
place between the two sisters whether Timothy should or shouldn't be summoned to see
Annette. 18. “You should come here often,” he said to Shelton... “You ought to come here
often,” he repeated to Shelton. 19. You ought to finish your work before going out. — I
know I should.

Exercise 2. State whether should is auxiliary or modal.

1. “So you think I should go, then?” said Randall behind him. 2. At breakfast I told
Mary that I should be absent at least four days. 3. I shouldn't have believed it if I hadn’t seen
it with my own eyes. 4. You really shouldn’t have said that, Felix. I'll talk to him myself. 5.
How about Pinfold? Shouldn’t he be here? 6. Thank God for our Gilbert. What should we do
without him? 7. No one knew when I was to be back or if I should be back at all. 8. Felix
said hastily, “Forgive me. I shouldn't have troubled you”. 9. Nell has just told me you wanted
to see me or I shouldn’t have troubled you. 10. They had not seen — no one should see her
distress, not even her grandfather.

Exercise 3. Use the required form of the infinitive after ought to and should.
1. But we ought (to have) your brother here, to tell us exactly how far we can go. 2.
Tea is between half past five and six, and it should (to be) ready now. 3. He couldn’t see
anything. He thought he ought (to bring) a torch. 4. Should the baby (to play) with a box of
matches? 4. If you are in love it ought (to make) you happy. You ought (to laugh). 5. The
doctor said it was appendicitis and she ought (operate) on. 6. You should (to see) him
yesterday on horseback. 7. One day the headmaster came on Jack, who should (to sweat) on
the sports ground, sitting comfortably in a garden’s shed reading a book and eating a large
piece of cocoa-nut ice. 8. Oughtn’t you (to answer) this letter now? 9. “Well, I’m very glad
to know at last what it was all about.” “You ought (to tell) before.” 10. Then he should (to
laugh), but instead he heard himself saying: “Everything you say is quite true.” 11. “I don’t
think he has the least idea of what I meant.” “You should (to be) more explicit, my dear.”

Exercise 4. Paraphrase the following sentences so as to use ought (oughtn't)

followed by a correct form of the infinitive according to the model.

Model: I felt it would be only proper to follow his advice.

I felt I ought to follow his advice.

1. I knew it would be improper if I opened the letter. 2. I recommended you to finish

your work before going out. 3. I advise you not to eat between meals; it will make you fat. 4.
I disapprove of your smoking so much; you are wasting your money and doing harm to your
health. 5. It's a pity I didn't take those books back to the library last week. 6. It was wrong of
you not to tell our guide that you wanted to go sightseeing all by yourself. 7. You didn't wait
till the lights were green before crossing the road, and it was wrong, you know. 8. It was
unreasonable of you to have crossed the road when the lights were red. 9. I wish you had
been there. The performance was wonderful. 10. If he starts at eight he will probably be there
by one o'clock.
 Exercise 5. Translate the following sebtences into English using ought to and
should whoever possible.
1. Я прошу вибачення. Мені не слід було це говорити. 2. Я думаю, що вам треба
проявляти більше поваги до старших. 3. Я подумав, що тобі потрібно (слід) про це
знати. 4. Мені не слід було це казати. Я засмутив її. 5. “Я сказав щось таке, чого мені
не слід було казати?” – спитав він у матері. 6. Не варто (не треба) задавати таких
запитань. 7. Ну, що ж, ви були праві. Мені не так треба було це зробити. 8. Як ти
думаєш, чим мені треба було би зайнятися? 9. Я сказав, що їй не треба було би
приходити з ним сюди. 10. Не слід (не треба) бути таким критичним у вашому віці. 11.
“Анна – моя сестра.” “Я би міг і здогадатися (Мені треба було здогадатися). Ви схожі
на неї.” 12. Їй треба було би раніше про це згадати.

Exercise 6. Fill in the blanks with ought, have to, be to or need followed by the
appropriate infinitive:
1. Mother always tells me that I ... (to be) more careful. 2. You ... not (to tell) him my
telephone number, he knows it. 3. You ... not (to say) that! See how distressed she is. 4.1
don’t want to do it, but I.... 5. All the same, I think you ... (to see) a doctor. There must be
something the matter with you. 6. Don’t forget that you ... (to get up) at seven! 7. But there
was no other way out. 1... (to communicate) with him. No one else knew her address. 8.
Such things ... not (to be allowed). 9, You ... not (to write) such a long composition. The
teacher only asked for 200 words, and you have written 400. 10. “Perhaps I... not (to trouble)
you.” He closed his lips tight. He was offended.

Exercise 7. Translate the following sentences into English using shouldn’t,

oughtn’t to or needn’t followed by the perfect infinitive.
1. Тобі не слід було потурати її примхам. 2. Тобі не варто було приводити свого
приятеля сьогодні. Я погано почуваюся. 3. Мені не треба було говорити їм це. 4.
Даремно ти замовив номер в готелі. У нас є вільна спальна кімната. 5. Тобі не треба
було одружуватися так рано. 6. Даремно ти написав йому про це. Тепер він буде
хвилюватися. 7. Даремно ти приїхала до Лондона. Його тут немає. 8. Даремно ти
купив цю машину. Вона дуже дорого коштує. 9. Даремно ти приїхав машиною, тут
немає мосту. 10. Даремно ти був таким грубим з нею. Тепер вона плаче.

Exercise 8. Translate the sentences into English, using must, ought to, should, need, have
to or to be to. дзшка
1. Вибачте, що затримала вас, але мені потрібно було зателефонувати додому та
попередити, щоб не чекали мене на обід. 2. Врешті решт ми вирішили, що вам не
потрібно залишатися там довше, що вам пора відправлятися в гори. 3. Ти повинна
вдягтися як найкраще, я хочу, щоб ти вразила всіх. 4. Ви повинні були приготувати
домашнє завдання належним чином. Тобі би вам не прийшлося задавати такі
запитання. 5. Даремно ти чекала стільки часу. Було би краще, якби ти залишила мені
записку. Я би зробив все, що ти хотіла. 6. Вони, мабуть, працюють у лабораторії. Не
варто їм заважати. 7. Чому ти прийшла вчора? – Я повинна було зустрічати свою
двоюрідну сестру на вокзалі. – Тоді ти повинна була би зателефонувати, ми б на тебе
не чекали. 8. Роби, як знаєш, я не збираюся тобі заважати. Крім того, мені прийдеться
поїхати геть дуже скоро. 9. Вистава, вочевидь, буде дуже цікавою. Студенти так довго
до неї готувалися. 10. В тому, що він сказав немає нічого смішного. Потрібно були
серйознішим. 11. Йому прийдеться працювати тут, поки лабораторія на ремонті. 12.
Ти пожартував (ти сказав це жартома), а вона образилася. 13. Підготовка до їхнього
приїзду зайняла у нас цілісінький день. Кожному прийшлось щось робити. 14. Він
заслуговує на повагу. 15. Даремно я не поговорив з ним, а треба було. 16. Не дозволяй
дітям гратися у моїй кімнаті. Вони перевернуть там все вверх дном. А тобі прийдеться
потім прибирати. 17. Вам не треба було турбувати професора. Я міг би надати вам всю
необхідну інформацію. 18. Їм слід було би стримати його. Вони ще про це
пожалкують. 19. Я точно виконую вказівки, які мені дали. Я добре знаю, з чого мені
починати.

1. I'm sorry that I kept you waiting, but I had to call home and say not to expect/tell
them (my wife, etc.) not to expect me for dinner. 2. Eventually/Finally we decided that we
shouldn't stay there any longer and should go to the mountains. 3. You must dress in your
very best, I want you to impress everyone as favorably as possible. 4. You should/ought to
have done your homework properly. Then you wouldn't have had to ask such questions. 5.
You needn't have waited so long. You should/ought to have left me a note. I would have
done all you wanted. 6. They must be working in the laboratory. We/You/One shouldn't
bother them. 7. "Why didn't you come yesterday?" — "I was to meet my first cousin at the
railway station." — "Then you should/ought to have phoned so that we shouldn't wait for
you." 8. Do whatever you like, I'm not going to stand in your way, besides I am to leave
soon. 9. The party should/ought to be interesting. It took the students so long to prepare for
it. 10. There's nothing funny in what he said. You should/ought to/must be more serious. 11.
He will have to work here while the laboratory is being renovated (while the laboratory
equipment is being repaired/is under repair). 12. You said it in/for fun, but she has taken
offence. You should/ought to/ must be more considerate. 13. It took us all day to prepare for
their arrival. Everyone had to do something. 14. Such people should be/ ought to be admired.
15. It didn't occur to me to talk to him though it should have. 16. Don't allow the children to
play in my room. They will turn everything upside down, and you will have to tidy up. 17.
You needn't have bothered the professor. I could have given you all the necessary
information. 18. They should/ ought to have kept him from such an unwise action. They are
going to be sorry about it./They will wish they had. 19. I am sticking/keeping to the
directions I have received. I know full well what I am to start with.

Exercise 9. Choose the correct form of the verb.

A JOHN: Can you help me with these letters?
IRIS: Must we do/ Should we do them now? Can’t they wait until the morning?
JOHN: No. I must have posted/ should have posted them this morning, really.
IRIS: Oh, all right then.

B KEN: Where’s Sally? She must be/ should be here by now.

JO: I don’t know what’s happened to her. She must have missed/should have missed
the train.

C MARY: Happy birthday. I’ve brought you a present.

NEIL: Oh, you needn’t bother/ needn’t have bothered.
MARY: That’s OK.
 NEIL: Well, thanks very much.

D PETER: I’m going to Neil’s birthday party this evening. Do you think I must/ ought to
take him a present?
RAY: Well, you mustn’t /don’t have to, I’m sure he doesn’t expect one. But personally
I don’t think you should arrive/ must arrive at a party without anything for your host.

E At Neil’s party
NEIL: Why isn’t Andrew here? Is he too busy?
PETER: He told me he hadn’t been invited. He’s gone away for the weekend.
NEIL: Oh, dear. His invitation must get lost/ must have got lost in the post.

1,3,4,5