should and ought

OUGHT TO and SHOULD

û OUGHT TO

Obligation

We can use ought to advise people (including ourselves) to do things: to tell people that they have a duty to do things; to ask aout our duty. The meaning is very similar to that of should; it is not so strong as must.

Whta time ought I to arrive?

I really ought to phone Mother.

People ought not to drive like that.

Deduction

We can use ought to say that we guess or conclude that sth is probable (because it logical or normal).

Henry ought to be here soon – he left at six.

The weather ought to improve after the weekend.

Questions and negatives

It is common to use a structure with think... ought or should.

Do you thihk we ought to go now?

Should we go now?

Ought to have...

Ought has no past form, but we can use ought to have +past participle to express certain ideas about the past. This structure can be used to talk about things which were supposed to happen but did not, or to make guesses or drw conclusions about things which are not certain to have happened.

I ought to have phoned Ed this morning, but I forgot.

The Parkers ought to have got back from holiday yesterday, has anybody seen them?

It is also possible to talk about things that ought to have happened by now, or by a future time.

Ten o’clock, she ought to have arrived at her office by now.

We ought to have finished painting the house by the end of the next week.

û SHOULD

Obligation

We often use should to talk about obligation, duty and similar ideas. It is less strong than must.

People should drive more carefully.

You shouldn’t say things like that to Granny.

Applications should be sent before December 30^th.

In questons, should is used to ask for advice or instructions.

Should I go and see the police, do you think? What should we do?

Should can also act as a past form of shall in indirect speech.

They asked what they should do.

Deduction

We can use should to say that sth is probable (because it is logical or normal).

Henry should be here soon – he left at six.

The weather should improve after the weekend.

should and ought

Should and ought are very similar, and can often replace each other. They are both used to talk about obligation and duty, to give advice, and to say what we think it is right for people to do or have done. Should is much more frequent than ought.

You should/ought to see ‘Daughter of the Moon’ – it’s a great film.

You should/ought to have seen his face!

Should and ought are not used in polite requests.

Could you move your heas a bit? I can’t see.

Should and ought are both also used to talk about logical possibility.

I’ve bought three loaves – that should/ought to be enough.

That should/ought to be Janet coming upstairs now.

4. must and should/ought

Must has similar meanings to should and ought, but is stronger or more definite. It expresses great confidence that something will happen, or that something is true; should and ought express less confidence.

The doctore said I must give up smoking (an order which is likely to be obeyed)

You really ought to give up smoking. (a piece of advice which may or may not be followed)

5. the emotional should

1. We use emphatic constructions in the following cases:

û In rhetorical questions beginning with why

Why should I do it? (С какой стати я буду это делать?)

I went into business with her as her partner. Why shouldn’t I have done it? (Почему бы мне было не сделать это?)

û In object clauses begining with why

I don’t know why he should want to see George. (Я не знаю, зачем ему нужен Джордж.)

û In attributive clauses beginning with why after the noun reason

There is no reason why they shouldn’t get on very well together. (Нет причины, почему бы им не ладить друг другом.)

2. Certain types of subordinate clauses have should + infinitive. The rules of the sequence of tenses are not observed here.

ü In object clauses after expressions of regret, surprise, sometimes pleasure or displeasure

I’m sorry that you should think so badly of me. (Жаль, что вы так плохо обо мне думаете.)

He was little surprised that Ann should speak so frankly about it.

I am content that you should think so.

I am sorry that you should have had a row with Kate about it.

He was annoyed that they should have asked him that.

ü In object clauses following the main clause with it as a formal subject

It is absurd that such things should happen to a family like theirs. (Нелепо, чтобы такие вещи случались в такой семье, как их.)

It was strange that he should be asking those questions.

It struck him exceedingly funny that his brother should be in love.

In the main clause we find such expressions as it is wonderful (absurd, monstrous, natural, odd, queer, singular, strange, terrible etc), it infuriated (outraged, puzzled, startled, surprised etc) me. We can also see questions and negatives expressions in the main clause: is it possible (likely, probable)?, it is impossible (improbable, unlikely).

If the action of the subordinate clause precedes that of the main clause, the perfect infinitive is used after should.

It is inconceivable that Mrs Crosbie should have written such a letter.

It’s much better that you should have found everything out before it’s too late.

PRACTICE

1. Explain the meanings of ought to and should in the following sentences.

1. I think I ought to let your parents know we are here.

2. You should have gone to the concert. Why should you miss the music?

3. I think I ought to put all my cards on the table.

4. It’s late. You should go to bed.

5. Oughtn’t you to be more careful?

6. ‘How can you know what his feelings are?’ ‘I ought to know, for he’s always telling me about them.’

7. It was surprising that they should have met at all.

8. He remembered that he should not smoke unless invited to do so.

9. When Charles saw Ann playing tennis, he came up and said: ‘Are you sure you ought to be doing that?’

10. The responsibility is entirely mine. I acted very wrongly indeed. I ought not to have let this relationship start.

11. ‘When is he going back?’ ‘How should I know?’

12. Mrs Murray will be moving into the new house next month. It ought to be less bleak for her.

13. ‘Meg is in town shopping.’ ‘Who took her in?’ ‘Renny drove her to the train. He should be back at any moment.’

2. Use the required for mof the infinitive after ought to and should.

1. But we ought (to have) your brother here, to tell us exactly how far we can go.

2. Tea is between half past five nad six, and it should 9to be) ready now.

3. He couldn’t see anything. He thought that he ought (to bring) a torch.

4. Should the baby (to play) with a box of matches?

5. If you’re in love it ought (to make) you happy. You ought (to laugh).

6. The doctor said it was appendicitis and she ought (to operate) on.

7. You should (to see) him yesterday on horseback.

8. Your father and I should (to arrange) everything before I came here.

9. Oughtn’t you (to answer) that letter now?

10. Where is his car? He shouldn’t (leave) it unattended.

11. He drove at great speed. He knew that about this hour the guests should (to aarive) at his house.

3. Fill in the blanks choosing between ought to and should. Note that ought to tends to express moral obligation and is not frequent in negative sentences, and should is common in instructions and corrections. In other cases of obligation, they are interchangeable.

1. He looked more than ever out of place; he.............. have stayedat home.

2. I don’t think people........... gossip like that about other poeple.

3. She said, ‘You know, I think I.............. get across to the station and see what goes on.’

4. I want him to do what’s right. It...............(not) be necessary to persuade a man to do that.

5. My mother frowned at him and shook her head in a way that meant that he.............(not) say things like that on front of her.

6. ‘Strange,’ said the boy, ‘How, when people are either very old or very young, they are always wanting to do something they................(not) do.’

7. ‘It is very wicked of,’ she said. ‘You.... be ashamed of yourself.’

8. After she had gone I found myself wondering whether I............... do anything for her.

9. I’ll see and speak to Maurice. He................ (not) behave like that.

10. I expect you to tell me the way to do it. You............ know.

11. She is a clever girl and her French.................. be perfect.

12. The children were out dancing when they............... have been learning their lessons.

4.Translate the following setences into English using ought to and should wherever possible.

1. Я прошу прощения. Мне не следовало это говорить.

2. Я думаю, вам следует проявлять больше уважения к старшим.

3. Я подумал, что тебе следовало бы знать об этом.

4. Теперь я расстроил ее. Мне не нужно было этого говорить.

5. Не стоит задавать таких вопросов.

6. Вы были правы. Мне не так надо было сделать это.

7. Как ты думаешь, чем мне следовало бы заняться?

8. Я был с тобой более откровенен, чем следовало бы. Я сказал, что ей совсем не следовало бы приходить с ним.

9. Не стоит быть столь критичным в твоем возрасте, Фрэнк.

5. Translate the sentences into English using the emotional should.

1. Вот я и подумал, что это абсурд, что мы живем рядом и не разговариваем.

2. Как странно, что он ничего не сказал об этом.

3. Было не вероятно, чтобы Джон оказался так занят, что у него всю неделю не было времени повидать ее.

4. Я не вижу оснований, почему они должны сердиться.

5. «Как его зовут?» - «А зачем я буду тебе говорить?»

6. мне жаль, что ты так плохо обо мне думаешь.

7. Не знаю, почему он хочет увидеться с Джорджем.

8. Было странно, что в ее возрасте она была так безразлична к вечеринкам.

9. На конец он решил вернуть домой. Возможно, что там он услышит новости о Мэри.

10. Мне очень жаль, что брат виноват в этом.

11. Как случилось, что ты привел его с собой? И чего это он захотел прийти сюда?

12. Он был рад, что Кэт все же назвала ребенка в его честь.

13. Что могло с ним случиться? Представить себе не могу, почему он так опаздывает.

14. Забавно, что она оказалась права.

15. Странно, что она выбрала этого человека себе в мужья.

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