Modal verb ought to | Uses, examples and exercises

What the modal verb ought to is

Ought to is a modal verb mainly used in formal or written contexts and has a somewhat similar meaning to the modal verb should. Unlike the other modal verbs, the modal verb ought to consists of a first element, “ought” followed by the to, which implies that the verb that comes after must be in its infinitive form. And like the other modal verbs, it does not change form to correspond with the subject.

Uses of the modal verb ought to

To express obligation

Ought to is used to express obligation in a very formal way. It can also be interpreted not so much as obligation but as an expectation of something that should happen.

Sentences:

You ought to share. (You must share.)
You ought to study more. (You must study more.)
You ought to be polite to everyone. (You must be polite to everyone.)
We ought to respect the law. (We must respect the law.)

To express probability

Ought to is also used to express the probability that something will happen.

Examples:

The cake ought to be ready in about 20 minutes. (The cake should be ready in about 20 minutes.)
We ought to arrive by midnight. (We should arrive by midnight.)
She ought to reach her goal by next month. (She should reach her goal by next month).

To express desire of what would be ideal

Ought to can also be used to express things that are wished for or believed to be ideal.

Phrases:

We ought to eat less candies. (We should eat fewer candies.)
We ought to be kinder to each other. (We should be kinder to each other.)
He ought to read more books. (He should read more books.)
We ought to live peacefully. (We should live peacefully.)
I ought to go outside more to enjoy nature. (I should go outside more to enjoy nature.)

To express regret

When we use the modal verb ought to + have + past participle of the main verb, it expresses regret for something not done. It can also be used to reproach someone for what they did or didn’t do.

Examples:

I ought to have been by your side. (I should have been by your side.)
I ought to have listened to you. (I should have listened to you.)
You ought to have helped him. (You should have helped him.)
She ought to have answered the email. (She should have answered the email.)
I ought to have spent more time with my family. (I should have spent more time with my family.)
He ought to have eaten less. (He should have eaten less.)

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Interrogative sentences of the modal verb ought to

It is used ought to to ask questions formally. In this case, the subject goes between ought and to.

Ought I to intervene? (Should I intervene?).
Ought you to make that sacrifice (Should you make that sacrifice?).
Ought she to do it herself ?(Should she do it herself?).
Ought we to build a better future? (Should we build a better future?).
Ought they to study more for the test? (Should they study more for the test?).

Examples of the modal verb ought to in the negative

When using the negative form, not goes between ought and to.

You ought not to steal. (You must not steal.)
You ought not to commit injustices. (You must not commit injustices.)
You ought not to fall asleep in class. (You must not fall asleep in class).
The cake ought not to be ready in 20 minutes. (The cake shouldn’t be ready in 20 minutes).
I ought not to have regretted traveling the world. (I shouldn’t have regretted traveling the world).

Contraction of ought not to

The contraction of the negative form of ought to is oughtn’t to.

You oughtn’t to have been rude. (You shouldn’t have been rude.)
You oughtn’t to have said that. (You shouldn’t have said that.)
We oughtn’t to have stayed silent before that injustice? (We shouldn’t have stayed silent before that injustice.)

Exercises to practice ought to

A. Fill in the blanks using ought and oughtn’t as appropriate.

You __ to respect the law. (You must respect the law.)
To be successful in life, you ___ to be disciplined. (To be successful in life, you must be disciplined.)
She always arrives on time, so she__ to be late today. (She is always punctual, so she shouldn’t be late today.)
We want to represent our country in the best way we can, so we___ to misbehave when visiting other countries. (We want to represent our country in the best possible way, so we mustn’t misbehave when visiting other countries.)

B. Fill in the blanks with the negative form of ought to.

(We) __ wait two days for a new flight? (Should we wait two days for a new flight?)
You ______ to use the car without asking. (You mustn’t use the car without asking first.)
(He) ___ cook dinner tonight? (Should he cook dinner tonight?)
(I)__ be heard? (Shouldn’t I be heard?).
You ____ be unkind. (You mustn’t be unkind.)
(She)____ do all the work while we do nothing? (Should she do all the work while we do nothing?)