Module 4: Mastering Modal Verbs - Lesson 4.7: Modal Verbs of Obligation/Advice: SHOULD and OUGHT

Module 4: Mastering Modal Verbs - Lesson 4.7: Modal Verbs of Obligation/Advice: SHOULD and OUGHT TO

Lesson 4.7: Modal Verbs of Obligation/Advice - SHOULD and OUGHT TO

In this lesson, we will explore two modal verbs that express weaker obligation, advice, and recommendations in English: SHOULD and OUGHT TO. These modals are used to suggest the best course of action, give advice, express expectations, or indicate a sense of duty or mild obligation. They are less forceful than MUST and HAVE TO, offering a gentler approach to expressing what is advisable or expected.

Modal Verbs for Weaker Obligation and Advice: SHOULD and OUGHT TO

Both SHOULD and OUGHT TO are used to give advice and express weaker obligation, and they are very similar in meaning. The key aspects of these modals are:

• Weaker Obligation: They express a sense of duty or correctness, but less forceful than MUST or HAVE TO. Suggesting what is a good or right thing to do, rather than a strict requirement.
• Advice and Recommendations: They are commonly used to give advice, make suggestions, and recommend actions.
• Expectations and Assumptions: They can express what is normally expected or assumed to happen in a given situation.

While very similar, there are slight nuances and usage patterns that we will explore.

SHOULD - Expressing Advice and Weaker Obligation

SHOULD is the more common and versatile of the two modals. It is widely used to give advice, express recommendations, talk about duties or obligations in a milder way, and express expectations.

Key Uses of SHOULD (Advice/Obligation):

• Giving Advice and Recommendations: To offer suggestions and recommend a course of action that the speaker believes is good or right. This is a primary use of "should."
• Expressing Weaker Obligation or Duty: To indicate a sense of duty or obligation, but less forceful than "must" or "have to." Suggesting what is advisable or expected, but not a strict rule.
• Expressing Expectations or Assumptions: To talk about what is normally expected or assumed to happen in a given situation or based on general knowledge.

Forming Sentences with SHOULD (Advice/Obligation):

The structure is:

Formula: Subject + should + Base Verb

Examples of SHOULD (Advice/Obligation) in Use:

• Giving Advice and Recommendations:
  • "You should eat more fruit and vegetables." (Giving health advice - recommending a healthy diet)
  • "If you're tired, you should go to bed early." (Giving advice based on a situation - recommending rest)
  • "You should visit the museum, it's very interesting." (Recommending an activity - suggesting a good experience)
  • "What should I do about this problem?" (Seeking advice - asking for recommendations)
• Expressing Weaker Obligation or Duty:
  • "We should respect our elders." (Expressing a social duty or moral obligation - suggesting appropriate behavior)
  • "You should be polite to your colleagues." (Suggesting expected workplace behavior - advisable conduct)
  • "Drivers should stop at red lights." (Stating a traffic rule as an expected behavior - advisable action for safety and legality, though "must" or "have to" could also be used for stronger obligation)
  • "I should call my parents more often." (Expressing a personal sense of duty or mild guilt - feeling of what is right to do)
• Expressing Expectations or Assumptions:
  • "The train should arrive in ten minutes." (Expressing expectation based on a timetable or schedule)
  • "She should be at home by now." (Expressing assumption based on normal routines or time)
  • "Prices should go down after the sale." (Expressing expectation based on common market behavior)
  • "They should know about this already." (Expressing assumption based on their position or knowledge)

Negative and Question Forms of SHOULD (Advice/Obligation):

For negative and question forms with "should":

• Negative (Lack of Recommendation/Obligation - SHOULD NOT / SHOULDN'T): Subject + should not / shouldn't + Base Verb (e.g., You should not eat too much sugar, You shouldn't be late) - Contraction: *shouldn't* is very common. *Should not* is slightly more formal or emphatic. "Should not" advises against an action.
• Question (Seeking Advice/Recommendation): Should + Subject + Base Verb? (e.g., Should I apply for this job? Should we take a taxi?) - Question form is common for asking for advice or recommendations.

Examples of Negative and Question Forms with SHOULD (Advice/Obligation):

• "You should not drink too much coffee." / "You shouldn't drink too much coffee." (Negative advice - recommending against excessive coffee consumption)
• "You should not be so rude." / "You shouldn't be so rude." (Negative advice - recommending against impolite behavior)
• "They should not have said that." / "They shouldn't have said that." (Expressing disapproval of a past action - weaker form of criticism)
• "Should I accept this offer?" (Question seeking advice - asking for recommendation on a decision)
• "Should we wait for them?" (Question seeking advice - asking for recommendation on an action)
• "Where should we go for dinner?" (Question with question word "where" - seeking recommendations for a location)
• "What should I do in this situation?" (Question with question word "what" - seeking general advice)

OUGHT TO - Expressing Similar Meanings to SHOULD (More Formal, Less Common)

OUGHT TO has a very similar meaning to "should" and is also used to express advice, recommendations, and weaker obligation. However, "ought to" is generally considered more formal and is less frequently used in modern English compared to "should." In many situations, "should" is preferred due to its simplicity and common usage.

Key Uses of OUGHT TO (Advice/Obligation):

• Giving Advice and Recommendations (Formal): Similar to "should," but often sounds more formal or slightly more moralistic.
• Expressing Weaker Obligation or Duty (Formal): Similar to "should" for expressing duty, but again, more formal and less common.
• Expectations or Assumptions (Less Common than "should"): Can sometimes express expectations, but "should" is more typical for this.

Forming Sentences with OUGHT TO (Advice/Obligation):

The structure is:

Formula: Subject + ought to + Base Verb (Note: "to" is always used with "ought")

Examples of OUGHT TO (Advice/Obligation) in Use:

• Giving Advice and Recommendations (Formal):
  • "You ought to see a doctor if you feel unwell." (Formal advice - similar to "You should see a doctor...")
  • "We ought to consider all the options carefully." (Formal recommendation - suggesting thorough consideration)
  • "You ought to apologize for your mistake." (Formal advice - suggesting morally correct action)
  • "Perhaps you ought to try a different approach." (Polite and formal suggestion)
• Expressing Weaker Obligation or Duty (Formal):
  • "We ought to respect the law." (Formal statement of civic duty - similar to "We should respect the law...")
  • "Children ought to be taught good manners." (Formal statement about upbringing - suggesting desirable behavior)
  • "One ought to be punctual for appointments." (Formal and general statement about politeness - suggesting expected behavior)
  • "Employees ought to arrive on time." (Formal expectation of workplace behavior - similar to "Employees should arrive on time...")

Negative and Question Forms of OUGHT TO (Advice/Obligation):

For negative and question forms with "ought to":

• Negative (Lack of Recommendation/Obligation - OUGHT NOT TO / OUGHTN'T TO): Subject + ought not to / oughtn't to + Base Verb (e.g., You ought not to say that, You oughtn't to be late) - Contraction: *oughtn't to* exists, but is less common than "shouldn't". "Ought not to" is more formal.
• Question (Seeking Advice/Recommendation - Less Common): Ought + Subject + to + Base Verb? (e.g., Ought I to apply? Ought we to wait?) - Question form is less common than "Should" questions. Often sounds quite formal or even slightly old-fashioned in modern English. "Should" questions are generally preferred.

Examples of Negative and Question Forms with OUGHT TO (Advice/Obligation):

• "You ought not to speak to him like that." / "You oughtn't to speak to him like that." (Formal negative advice - recommending against impolite speech)
• "You ought not to rely on rumors." / "You oughtn't to rely on rumors." (Formal negative advice - cautioning against trusting rumors)
• "They ought not to have done that." / "They oughtn't to have done that." (Expressing disapproval of past action - more formal than "shouldn't have")
• "Ought we to book tickets in advance?" (Question seeking advice - more formal than "Should we book tickets...?") - Less common question form.
• "Ought I to apologize?" (Question seeking advice - more formal than "Should I apologize...?") - Less common question form.

SHOULD vs. OUGHT TO: Key Nuances - Formality and Usage Frequency

• SHOULD and OUGHT TO are very similar in meaning. Both express advice, weaker obligation, and expectations.
• Formality: OUGHT TO is generally more formal than SHOULD. "Should" is more common in everyday spoken and written English.
• Frequency of Use: SHOULD is far more frequently used than OUGHT TO in modern English. "Ought to" can sometimes sound slightly stiff or old-fashioned in informal contexts.
• "To": Remember that "OUGHT TO" always requires "to" before the base verb. "Should" never uses "to."

In most everyday situations, "should" is perfectly acceptable and often the preferred choice for giving advice and expressing weaker obligation. "Ought to" is still grammatically correct and understood, but it is less common in contemporary English, tending towards more formal or slightly old-fashioned contexts. When in doubt, "should" is usually a safe and versatile option.

Key takeaway: SHOULD and OUGHT TO express advice and weaker obligation. They are very similar in meaning, but SHOULD is more common and less formal. OUGHT TO is more formal and less frequently used. Both are followed by the base form of the verb (remember "to" with "ought to"). Use them to give suggestions, express expectations, and indicate duties in a milder way than MUST or HAVE TO. Next, we will explore Modal Verb of Prohibition: MUST NOT (MUSTN'T)!