Page 43 - Advanced English Grammar in Use

S h o u l d a n d o u g h t t o
Should
to
and
ought
( д We can often use should or ought to with little difference in meaning when we talk about
We can often use should or ought to with little difference in meaning when we talk about
OBLIGATION and PROBABILITY.
OBLIGATION a n d PROBABILITY.
Obligation
Obligation
ADVICE or making a RECOMMENDATION:
• * giving
giving ADVICE or making a RECOMMENDATION:
soup is too salty!' 'You should / ought to send it back.'
'This
• * 'This soup is too salty!’ 'You should / ought to send it back.’
You'll catch cold if you go out like that. I think you should / ought to take a hat.
• * You'll catch cold if you go out like that. I think you should / ought to take a hat.
saying what an outside authority recommends (although we prefer should in this case):
or
or saying what an outside authority recommends (although we prefer should in this case):
says that the computer should be disconnected (= passive) from the mains
The manual says that the computer should be disconnected (= passive) from the mains
• * The manual
(rather than ...ought to be disconnected...)
before the cover is removed.
before the cover is removed, (rather than ...ought to be disconnected...)
However, we use should (or would), not ought to, when we give advice with I: I:
However, we use should (or would), not ought to, when we give advice with
I should leave early tomorrow, if I were you. (or I would leave...; or I'd leave...)
• * I should leave early tomorrow, if I were you. (or I would leave...; or I'd leave...)
talking about a RESPONSIBILITY or DUTY:
• * talking about a RESPONSIBILITY orbuTy:
should / ought to be warned (= passive) of the danger of swimming off this beach.
• * People
People should / ought to be warned (= passive) of the danger of swimming off this beach.
should / ought to visit my parents more often.
• * I I should / ought to visit my parents more often.
Probability
Probability
is PROBABLY TRUE now or will probably be true in the future:
saying that something
• * saying that something is PROBABLY TRUE now or will probably be true in the future:
any string?' 'There should / ought to be some in the kitchen drawer.'
• * 'Have we got any string?’ 'There should / ought to be some in the kitchen drawer.’
‘Have we got
where we always keep it)
(because that's
(because that's where we always keep it)
You should / ought to have received the report by now.
• ¢ You should / ought to have received the report by now.
I enjoyed her first novel, so the new one should / ought to be good.
• * Tenjoyed herfirst novel, so the new one should / ought to be good.
We use should / ought to + have + past participle to talk about an obligation in the past. We often
We use should / ought to + have + past participle to talk about an obligation in the past. We often
indicate some criticism or regret:
indicate some criticism or regret:
He should / ought to have asked me before he took my bike. (I'm annoyed)
• * He should / ought to have asked me before he took my bike. (I'm annoyed)
We should / ought to have taken a taxi when it rained. (I'm sorry we didn't)
• * We should / ought to have taken a taxi when it rained. (I'm sorry we didn't)
also use should / ought to + have + past participle to talk about an expectation that something
We
We also use should / ought to + have + past participle to talk about an expectation that something
happened, has happened, or will happen:
happened, has happened, or will happen:
If the flight was on time, he should / ought to have arrived in Jakarta early this morning.
• ¢ Ifthe flight was on time, he should / ought to have arrived in Jakarta early this morning.
• The builders should / ought to have finished by the end of the week.
* The builders should / ought to have finished by the end ofthe week.
can use had better instead of should / ought to, especially in spoken English, to say that we
We can use had better instead of should / ought to, especially in spoken English, to say that we
We
it would be sensible or advisable to do something. However, we don't use it to talk about
think
think it would be sensible or advisable to do something. However, we don't use it to talk about
general comments:
the past or to make general comments:
the past or to make
If you're not well, you should / ought to ask Ann to go instead, (or ...you'd better ask...)
2 • * Ifyou're not well, you should / ought to ask Ann to goinstead. (or ...you'd better ask...)
should / ought to have caught a later train, (not You had better have...)
You should / ought to have caught a latertrain. (not You had better have...)
• ¢ You
should / ought to give their children sweets, (not ...had better...)
I don't think parents
I don't think parents should / ought to give their childrensweets. (not ...had better...)
• * to (for more logical if you think I'm going to situation or activity, we use must not should or
• ° We • ¢ • * • * can I'm use the third time she's instead skating this week - she to was a' less is strong obligation: to do
make
a
from
conclusion
some
we
When we make a logical conclusion from some situation or activity, we use must not should or
When
must,
on
Unit
23):
see
ought to (for more on must, see Unit 23):
ought
must
lend you any more money.
be mad
a @
You must be mad if you think I'm going to lend you any more money.
You
• °
must really enjoy it.
been
It's
It's the third time she's been skating this week - she must really enjoy it.
should
to
ought
to
/
supposed
of
talk
about
obligation
(be)
an
We can use (be) supposed to instead of should / ought to to talk about an obligation to do
is commonly
to
English
express
spoken
It
in
used
something.
something. It is commonly used in spoken English to express a’ less strong obligation:
supposed
to
to
supposed
last
start
be there
10.00.
week.
at
I'm supposed to be there at 10.00.
• «
The work
The work was supposed to start last week.
report what
supposed to when we
people
use
true:
(be)
think
many
We
We use (be) supposed to when we report what many people think is true:
is
to
supposed
...should
for your
be
for...)
bad
bad
teeth,
sweets
be
(not ...should be bad for...)
(not
Eating
Eating sweets is supposed to be bad for yourteeth.
Should in conditionals
Shouldin that-clauses
=
Should in that-clauses = ==>
MUSt = >
Must
Should in conditionals