should en ought to

• Engels
• MBO
• Studiejaar 4

betekenis/gebruik

Both should and ought to belong to the group of auxiliary modal verbs that have no meaning on their own but they modify the main verb, change its meaning and give more details about the action.

Should and ought to are used to express obligation and duty through advice or recommendations.

Form

Should and ought to are always followed by the infinitive of the verb. They have the same forms even for the third person singular (affirmative, negative and interrogative).

Example; should

:

I should call the police.

You shouldn’t be here.

Should we leave the city?

Ought to:

You ought to clean up your room.

She oughtn’t to have said such mean things.

Ought we to go now?

Verschil?

Both of these modal verbs have a very similar meaning and one can replace the other. They can be considered not to be as strong as must.

However, should is used much more often and it is less formal than ought to. Ought to is almost never used in interrogative and negative form.

Summary

Summary

The modal verbs should and ought to express weaker obligation or advice. They are always followed by the infinitive.

They differ in usage despite both having similar meanings.

Should is used more often and is less formal.

Ought to is very uncommon in everyday use, especially in its negative and interrogative form, and is generally more formal.

1. Which sentence is correct?

1. We should leaving soon.
2. We should leave soon.
3. We should to leave soon.

which is correct?
We ____ visit Eric when we are in London.

1. should
2. ought
3. didn’t ought

Which question is correct?

1. We should call the police?
2. Should we call the police?
3. Do we should call the police?

Which sentence is correct?

1. We ought to have a party to celebrate Kate’s birthday.
2. We ought have a party to celebrate Kate’s birthday.
3. We should to have a party to celebrate Kate’s birthday.

Which word goes in the space?
You _____ ride a motorbike without a helmet.

1. shouldn’t
2. ought
3. ought not

Which question is correct?

1. Ought we to tell Jane the news?
2. Ought we tell Jane the news?
3. We ought to tell Jane the news?

Which question is NOT correct?

1. When should we telephone you?
2. Where ought we to park our car?
3. Who should he to write to?

Which sentence is NOT correct?

1. You ought to invite your grandparents.
2. Jenny should happy about the news.
3. People shouldn’t park their cars here.

Complete the sentence.
You _____ do that!

1. don’t ought to
2. don’t should
3. shouldn’t

10. Complete the sentence.
We _______ invite Cassie and Jack to dinner.

1. should to
2. ought to
3. ought