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Content tagged with "OUGHT TO"

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Modals to express advice: SHOULD, OUGHT TO, HAD BETTER

advice
modals
HAD BETTER
OUGHT TO
SHOULD

Should, ought to and had better can express advice:

You should smoke less.
We'd better leave soon.
You ought to thank her. 

Ought to is less frequently used and is more formal.

Modals to express assumption: WILL, SHOULD, OUGHT TO

assumption
modals
OUGHT TO
SHOULD
WILL

Present and future

Will and should + infinitive are used to express assumptions with reference to present and future time. Assumptions with will are more probable:

Modals to express obligation: SHOULD, OUGHT TO

modals
obligation
OUGHT TO
SHOULD

Present and future

Should and ought to + infinitive express obligation and duty. Should is used when we offer a subjective opinion, while ought to has a more general and more objective meaning: