Should, ought (to)

6.8. In most of their meanings these verbs are used interchangeably. They express the following:

Advice, obligation, desirability

You should (ought to) see the doctor about it.

She shouldn't (oughtn't to) leave his letter unanswered.

Note 1. To express moral obligation ought (to) is preferable:

The young ought to respect the old.

Note 2. In these meanings should and ought (to) can be followed by the continuous infinitive:

You should (ought to) be doing your lessons instead of watching TV!

6.8.2. should (ought to) + perfect infinitive show that a desirable action didn't take place

You should (ought to) have kept your promise.

6.8.3. should not (ought not to) + perfect infinitive show that an undesirable action took place

You shouldn't (oughtn't) to have lied.

Supposition bordering on assurance; something that can be naturally expected

She is a very nice person, you should (ought to) make friends easily.

Note. ought to know is a set phrase:

He's been living here all his life, he ought to know all the inhabitants.

6.8.5. why should, how should are to be considered set phrases used for emotional colouring:

Why should I invite him?

Why should I have invited him?

How should she know where he is?

Exercises.

Exercise 35. Analyse the meanings of should. Translate thesentences into Russian.

1. "Chief Inspector Taverner thinks that Brenda and Laurence did it together because they're in love with each other." "You shouldn't say things like that, Josephine." "Why not? They are in love with each other." (A.Chr.) 2. Miss Curleigh, tell me: why should a wealthy old lady who is almost completely paralysed stealthily purchase six cats within a period of five weeks? (E.Q.) 3. "We should do something to celebrate it," Diana said. (D.S.) 4. Carter said that I should have been an advocate. (J.Ch.) 5. The duck salad should be served while the duck is still warm, so have everything else ready while it is in the oven. (S.Times) 6. Any butler who aspires at all to a "dignity in keeping with his position" … should never allow himself to be "off duty" in the presence of others. (K.I.) 7. Why should one not enjoy in a light-hearted sort of way stories of ladies and gentleman who fall in love and express their feelings for each other, often in the most elegant phrases? (K.I.) 8. But perhaps one should not be looking back for the past so much. (K.I.) 9. "Sir, you should have made known your presence." "Indeed?" (M.Mit.) 10. But why should Nicole get such an idea? (F.S.F.) 11. Henry Maturin can't live for ever, high blood pressure, you know, and by the time Gray's forty he should be worth twenty million dollars. (S.M.) 12. He thought she should think about retiring. (D.S.) 13. "How should I know what I was talking about when I didn't know what I was saying?" he snapped. (S.M.) 14. Why, she asked, pressing her chin on James's head, should they grow so fast? Why should they go to school? (V.W.) 15. But to be consistent the murderer should have chosen his towns in some definite sequence. (A.Chr.) 16. If Mr. Joseph Sedley is rich and unmarried why should I not marry him? (W.Th.) 17. We have found the bottle, empty, with no fingerprints on it. In the normal way there should have been fingerprints. (A.Chr.) 18. "You should have asked me," she said later. (E.S.) 19. A crusty old grumbler who lost his temper if the porridge was cold, why should he preach to us? (V.W.) 20. She should try not to feel overwhelmed by the need to answer the question, " Should I stay or should I leave?" (N.I.)

Exercise 36. Analyse the meanings of ought (to). Translate the sentences into Russian.

1. What he had not foreseen was the kind of night this had turned out to be – though he ought to have foreseen it… (A.H.) 2. But he ought to have had baggage, as a cover. (A.H.) 3. Nor ought it to be forgotten that, tornado the close of the period, there was a revival of the study of Greek, Latin, and Italian authors, which had a most refining effect on the literature of the time. (F.A.L.) 4. Old Miss de Haviland – I think she ought to have gone away when he got married. (A.Chr.) 5. He wants to work, he feels he ought to, and it humiliates him not to be wanted. (S.M.) 6. "I don't think," she said with dignity, "that you ought to ask me things like that." (A.Chr.) 7. There are too many years between us. You ought to have waited, and then married a boy of your own age. (D.M.) 8. She had all the courage and the spirit of a boy. She ought to have been a boy, I often told her that. (D.M.) 9. "We ought never to have stayed in Italy," he said. "We ought never to have come back to Manderlay. Oh, god, what a fool I was to come back." (D.M.) 10. You ought to be ashamed to always encourage her in her tomboyish way, Julius. (M.F.) 11. With my knowledge of languages I ought to be of some service in the Censorship Department. (E.Z.) 12. It was all wrong, this situation. It ought not to be happening at all. (D.M.) 13. Sophia looked at me. " Oughtn't you to go with the Inspector?" (A.Chr.) 14. They've gone to the Tuileries Gardens, but they ought to be in soon. (S.M.) 14. So the months went by. Yvette really ought to have had a good time. She was always out to parties and dances… (D.H.L.) 15. … and in the morning I'll call on old Mrs. Higgins and ask her what I ought to do. (B.Sh.) 16. We've been friends for some time. So I really ought to be truthful with you. (K.I.) 17. "I really ought to be retiring," I said. "I feel quite exhausted." (K.I.) 18. You ought to have a hot bath and go to bed. (J.Ch.)

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