MODALITY

Ought to

One form for every person, always with to and the base verb. It means the same as should: advice, what is right and what you expect.

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	I / you / we / they	he / she / it
+	I ought to go	She ought to go
−	I oughtn't to go	She oughtn't to go
?	Ought I to go?	Ought she to go?

No -s after he / she / it: she ought to · Always with to · Negative: oughtn't to or ought not to · In everyday speech should is more common.

Ought to + base verb

New

Ought to does not change: no -s after he / she / it. Keep to, and use the base verb after it.

subject+ ought to+ base verb

You ought to see a dentist.
She ought to call her mother.

She ought to calls her mother.
She ought to call her mother.

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One word is in the wrong form. Type the correct form.

She ought to calls her mother.

Advice and what is right

New

Use ought to to give advice or say what is the right thing to do. It means the same as should.

subject+ ought to+ base verb

You ought to apologise to her.
We ought to help our neighbours.

You ought to went home earlier.
You ought to go home earlier.

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You to apologise to her.

What you expect

New

Ought to can also mean that you expect something to be true or to happen, because it is normal or planned.

subject+ ought to+ base verb

The bus ought to be here soon.
The test ought to be easy.

The bus ought to arrived soon.
The bus ought to arrive soon.

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The film ought to at eight.

Negative and questions

New

The negative is oughtn't to or ought not to. Do not use do / does / did. A question starts with Ought, but it sounds formal: in speech people say Should I…?

subject+ oughtn't to+ base verb

You oughtn't to shout at him.
Ought I to tell her the truth?

You don't ought to shout at him.
You oughtn't to shout at him.

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We oughtn't waste food.