Should

Should have
Ought to
Ought to have
Function:
=giving advice or
suggestions in English
Should is a modal auxiliary that
we use very frequently in English:
•To give advice or a
recommendation:
Example:
That new restaurant downtown is
great! You should try it.

We also use should . . .

•To give our opinion about
something.
•To say what we think is a good
idea or the “right” thing to, do in
our opinion.
*Should is not as strong as
“had better,” “must” or “have to”
Consider these examples . . .
You should stop smoking.
(=it would be a good idea; this is my
suggestion.)

You must stop smoking.

(=it is necessary that you stop.
You have to do it.)
The negative of should =

The contraction (short) form is often used

with the negative, especially in spoken
English:

The mother told her child:

“You shouldn’t eat too much candy,
or you’ll get sick.”
Ought to is another way to say should;
however should is more common.

Grammar:
Should and ought to are both
auxiliaries; remember this
important rule . . .
 Examples:
You should your money
to buy a new house.
You ought to a separate savings
account for the house you want to buy.

Mark shouldn’t out to play with his

friends. He has too much homework.

**Important note:
we don’t usually use “ought to”
in the negative; shouldn’t is preferred.
When Americans use “ought to,” it
often sounds like “otta.”
Practice saying these sentences:
1. You ought to study for the test
tonight.
2. The government ought to raise the
minimum wage.
3. We ought to get together for lunch.
 “Practice makes perfect!”
Make sentences with should and ought
to:

Use should: Use ought to:

1. Your friend wants
1. Your sister needs to to take a computer
get into shape. class, but he
doesn’t know which
2. Your classmate one to take.
doesn’t understand
the grammar. 2. Your mother doesn’t
feel well.
 Past tense forms:
should + ought to
Some auxiliaries have a past
tense form. For instance:

The past tense of can =

The past tense of will =

BUT, should and ought to don’t have a simple

past tense construction like “can” and “will” do.
 To use should and ought to in the
past, we do the following:
Should
or + HAVE +
Past
participle
Ought to of main
verb

Examples:
1. The party was great! You should have come.
2. I feel sick. I shouldn’t have eaten so much.
3. I didn’t pass the test. I ought to have studied more.
 Again, contractions with should are
common, especially in spoken in English:

We missed a lot of grammar practice

this morning. We should’ve come to
class earlier.

I shouldn’t have spent so much

time at the café with my friends.
Now, I’m late for work.
Now it’s your turn to practice using
should and ought to in the past:

1. Your friend has a terrible

headache. You ask him if he took
any aspirin, and he tells you “no.”
What do you say to him? (use should)
2. Your friend had a job interview
yesterday, but she was late because
she got lost. She didn’t look up the
company’s address before the
interview. You say: (use ought to)
 Review:
1. Should and ought to are both used to give
advice, suggestions, recommendations, or a
person’s opinion.
*They are NOT as strong as had better, must,
or have to.

2. Should is more common than ought to.

To make the negative form, should is preferred.

3. When ought to is used, it’s typically pronounced

“otta.”
4. Should and ought to are modal
auxiliaries. They are followed by the
simple form of the main verb . . .

5. When we use should and ought to in

the past, they are followed by HAVE + the
past participle of the main verb.

6. Contractions (short forms) are

frequently used for should.
Examples are: shouldn’t (= should not)
should’ve (= should have)
 This week, we will continue to
learn and practice this grammar.
If you have difficulties understanding
this grammar, you shouldn’t keep quiet.

You should ask a classmate or

your teacher for help or for
more explanation.

You should also keep practicing!

Good luck!