Should and ought to We can often use should or ought to with little difference in meaning when we talk about Obligation + giving ADVICE or making a RECOMMENDATION + "This soup is too salty!’ "You should / ought to send it back + You'll catch cold ifyou go out like that. I think you should / ought to take a hat. or saying what an outside authority recommends (although we prefer should in this case) * The manual says that the computer should be disconnected (= passive) from the mains 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: + [ should leave carly tomorrow, if were you. (or I would leave...; ord leave...) + talking about a RESPONSIBILITY os)UTY: People should / ought to be warned (= passive) of the danger of swimming off this beach [ should / ought to visit my parents more often. Probability + saying that something is PROBABLY TRUE now or will probably be true in the future: + ‘Have we got any string? ‘There should / ought to be some in the kitchen drawer (because that’s where we always keep it) + You should / ought to have received the report by now + enjoyed 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 offen. indicate some criticism or regret: + 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 also use should / ought to + have + past participle o talk about an expectation that something happened, has happened, or will happen: + 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 ofthe week. We can use had better instead of should / ought to, especially in spoken English, to say that we think it would be sensible oF advisable to do something. However, we doa’t use it to talk about the past or to make general comments Q | Myeu'renot wel, youshould/ ought toask Ann togcnsteed. (or..you'dbetter as.) © You should / ought to have caught a latertrain. (not You had better have...) + [don’t think parents should / ought to give their childrensweets. (not ..had better.) When we make a logical conclusion from some situation or activity, we use must not should oF fought to (Vor more on must, sce Unit 23) You nist be mad if you think I'm ‘+ It's the third time she's been skating this week - she must rally enjoy it. ing to lend you any more money We can use (be) supposed to instead of should / ought to to talk about an obligation to do something. It is commonly used in spoken English to express a’ less strong obligation: + Tm supposed to be there at 10.00. + ‘The work was supposed to start last week We use (be) supposed to when we report what many people think Is true: + Eating sweets is supposed to be bad for yourteeth, (ot should be bad for...) Must= MI Sowntscass BE Seuinorset > SENm m2. 73 m4 unr EXERCISES 17 Complete these sentences with should / ought to + infinitive (or a passive form) or should / ought to have + past participle using one of these verbs. In which one is ought to NOT possible? Are there any in which should is more likely?(A & B) ‘check imclude keep listen meet plan receive refrigerate stay 1 You should, ought to have, received. myreply by now. 2 This medicine in a cool place. (rom a medicine bottle label) 3 Here's someone you really. 4 Iyou'te feling il, | at home today, if | were you. 5 To have got a better mark, you. your answers more thoroughly. 6 Acconding to the label, the jam after opening, 7 Tthink you to him. He knew what he was talking about 8 Tho results were completely wrong. As a seientst she the experiment more carefully 9. The information you send. details of courses taken at university Grom a jab application form) Correct these sentences where necessary, or puta ¥.(C) 1 Business letters had better be brieand to the point 2 It’s cold outside, so you had better put on a warm coat 3. I think children had better learn to cook at an early age. 4 You'd better not to go out tonight. I's raining. 5 As you are fecing ill, you'd better not go to work 6 Some plants had better not be grown in direct sunlight. It will damage their leaves. In which sentences can you put should or must and in which ean you only put must? Where both are possible, consider the difference between should and must. (D) 1 Atimetable be set for withdrawing the army. 2 Les isn't home yet. He. hhave been held up at work 3. T wonder how old Mike is?” "Well, he went to school with my mother, so he be well over 50.” 4 Ifyou smell gas, you phone the emergency number. 5 You try to visit Nepal - it’s a beautiful country. 6 ‘Tonly live a couple of minutes from the town centre." "Tt ‘be handy having shops nearby, Here are some things that people often say in Britain. (E) 1 Walking under a ladder is supposed to be 1K fr unlucky. a 2 [aspamppgrgite be lucky ifa black cat walks 3 THEWHPLHe cuckoo (= a bird) is supposed to 2 be the first sign of spring. _____ ess 4 Drinking hot milk before you go to bed UY is supposed to help you sleep. What other similar things do people often say in your country? Use supposed to in your answers.49 Should, ought to, had better and be supposed to A. Introduction he ong to posed to 39 B Should and ought to We use should and ought to o say what i the best thing or the right thing todo. There is no difference in meaning. You're not very well Perbps you shoul sce a docs. Your uncle was very ind o me. Lough to write hima letter of thanks. People shouldn't break/oughtn't to broak their promises. We can also ‘ase should and ought to in pssions to ask for aioe ‘Where sould [put this picture. lo you think? tsa dificult problen. How ought we to deal with it? After should or ought to we oaa use a continuous form (he + an ing-form). 4 shaif past sx already. shouldbe cooking theta. Why are you sting ere doing thing? You ough wo be working. C Had better ‘We use had better to say what i the best thing to do in a situation. scold The children had Better wear ther cous. The neighbours are complaining. We'd better turn the music down, My wife is waiting forme. I'd beter not be late ‘We cold also use should or ought to in these examples, although had better is stronger. The speaker sees the action as necessary and expects tha it will happen. D_Be supposed to ‘We use be supposed to when we are talking about the normal or corect way of doing things. The sues are supposed toy exvers or the hostess. Look tse cars. This area fs suppesed to be kept clear of raf. The bus driver needs to concentrate. Youre not suppesed to alk. ‘im. How am I supposed to cook this? ~ It tells you on the packet ‘We can ure wavwere supposed to for the past. Ts elevenociock. You mere sppose ta be here atten thi, you know. 52D Sha sd tak fr aie49 Exercises 1. Should and ought to (8) Pat in should. showin, owgh o ough. (Look forthe word 10) ‘Vicky: _Teant come out tonight, Rachel. [(P) out to do some moce work tm behind with everything [ve got so much todo. Rachel: You()) ory so much, Vicky. Don't pane You, to relx sometimes. You). take abreak, Vieky: Henow I(é) panic, but I do. Lea help it Rachel: Anyway, yours doing OK, arent you? Your rests have been goo. You), bepleased. You (0). to invent problems for yourself 2 Had better (C) What would you say in these sistions? Add a sentence with“ beter (not) and the words in brackets. Vicky doesat fel well. She's gota headache. What might you say w he (an aspitin) You'd beter take an aspirin 1 You and Daniel sre meeting Rachel. Youve both arived, but she isn there yet. She is usual (9). 2 ona is leaving hor bike outside the swimming-pool. You know it won't be safe ifsc leaves it unlocked. (ok) 3 Some fiends are going to visit you toa. Your room sina mess. What do you think? (iy) 4 Nickie giving you aft in his old sportscar. There's a sposd limit, and there's a police car behind you. Goo fis) 5. There's an exam tomorrow. Neither you noc Rachel have done any work fort (Come FVi808) ener 3 Be supposed to (D) ‘Add a sentence using be (no) supposed to and these verbs: amv it outside, report tthe police, stand ina queue, take nso before mec, atc it 1» You shoulder bring your bike fn here. Youre spose io leave outtde LTs@ 201 08 Pills sence 2 Forsiga vistors cant tava ely ete. v1sssvvovonneonnne 3. Recarefil wating fora basin England 4 This film i for under sitt6e88. ances ‘Should, ought to, had better and be supposed to (A-D) Complete the conversation, Use shold, eight 0, had better ot be supposed to and he ves in backs Usually there is more than one cotect answer. Vicky: What time (>) are we suppascd to be (we be) at the coffee morning? Rachol: “The invitation says ten lock. Vieky: Well isten now. (1) we /huy. @. (owe not be late, Rachels Oh it wont mato if we're abit late. Vieky: Think it would be nude, woul i? T don't think people BynsnnnnnnnenneFtve) late when they've been invited to something. Rachel: You worty 160 much (3) (90 not take) everything so seriously, Vicky. I's. coffee morning, ot jo interview: 6. sew _(e/ not pet) there exact on time.‘We can often use either should or ought to to talk about obligations and recommendations (e.g. ‘You shonldloegic to nish your homework before you go out) and probabilry (eg. ft should/ought to be ready by now) although in general should is sed more frequently. Ought to is used particularly in speech and most often to talk about obligation rather than probability. Notice also the following details ~ “we prefer should when we say what an outside authority recommends: (2 The manual says that the computer should be disconnected from the power supply before the cover is removed. (rather than ...ought to be disconnected. 4 we use should (or would), not ought to, when we give advice with I (1 should leave early tomorrow, if I were you. (or I would leave... or Pd leave...) ‘we prefer should in questions, particularly wh-questions: (3 What should I do if Thave any problems? © Should I ring you at home? Some people might use ‘What ought I to do...2 and “Ought Ito. ‘Nore thar when we conclude, on the basis of some evidence we have, that something is certain ‘0 very likely we can use must (see Unit 18) but not should/ought to: ‘3 1ts the third time she's been skating this week. She must really enjoy it ‘We use should/ought to + have + past participle o talk about something that didn’t happen in the past and we are sorry that it didn’t: 13 We should/ought to have waited forthe rain to stop. (I'm sorry we didn't) ‘We often use this pattern to indicate some regret or criticism and the negative forms shoulda'doughtn' to have are almost always used in this way. ‘We also use should/ought to + have + past participle to talk about an expectation that ‘something happened, has happened, or will happen: 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 ofthe week. ‘We can use should in questions that are offers or that request confirmation or advice: 1 Should I phone for a taxi for you? ‘© Who should I pass the message to? [Note that in sentences like these we can also use shall with a very similar meaning, and ought is also used in questions, although less commonly. ‘Compare the use of shall and should in sentences such as the following, where “I shall” means intend to’ and ‘I should” means ‘I ought to" (01 shall read the seript on the train tomorrow. (or Til read. should read the script on the train tomorrow but I know that I'll be t00 tired. ‘We can use had beter instead of should/ought to, especialy in spoken English, to say that we think i isa good idea to do something: © If you'ee not wel, you'd beter ask Ann to go instead. (or. you should/ought to. although we don’t use it to talk about the past or to make general comments: © You should/ought to have caught a later tain. (not You had better have caught. I don’ think parents should/ought to give theic children sweets. (not I don’ think par had better give their children sweets) ‘We prefer had better if we want ro express particular urgency and in demands and dheats: 1 There's someone moving about downsrs, We'd better call the police, quickly. [Notice thatthe negative form is had better not. In question forms the subject comes after had, although many people avoid questions with had better: [2 He'd better not be late again or he'l be in trouble. © Hada’ we better get a taxi? (or Shouldn't we get. Grammar review: should and ought to» (29-C32Exercises Unit 20 20.1 Complete these sentences with should/ought to + infinitive (active), should/ought to be + past participle (passive), or should/ought to have + past participle using each of these verbs once only. (A &B) answer arrive be go put remove resign send take visit. wear win 1 He is running so well at the moment that Thomas the 800 metres easily 2 Where 1 the cheese? In the fridge 3 The tickers « couple of weeks before we go on holiday. 4 Payment for the full amount with this application form. 5 You really the exhibition before it closes. There are some wonderful paintings. 6 Don told us not to take this road. We his advice, 7 All packaging before switching on the printer for the firs time. 8 Irs important to look smart atthe interview. You a suit 9 There are many people who think the President years ago. 10 we the questions in English or in French? 11 If you wane my advi by train rather than car 12 can't imagine what's happened to Kathy. She here by now. 20.2 In which sentences can you use should or must and in which can you only use must? Where both are possible, consider the difference between should and must. (A) 1A timetable be set for withdrawing the army. 2 Les isn't home yet. He have been held up at work 3 ‘I wonder how old Mike is? ‘Well, he went to school with my mother, so he be well over 50." 4 Af you smell gas, you phone the emergency number. 5 You tay to visit Nepal ~ it’ a beautiful country. 6 ‘Iknow I'm always complaining that my house is small, but it’s very convenient for work.’ "Yes, it be handy living so close to your office. 20:3 Where necessary correct these sentences using should/ought to, must, shall, or had bet write 7. (A, C&D) 1 Cyclists had better nor be allowed to ride on pavements, even where roads are very busy. 2 ‘There's something wrong with David's computer yet again.’ ‘He should wish he'd never bought it 3 The concert starts at 7.45. I'd berter make a note of that. 4 [shall take my library books back today, bue I don’t think I'll have time. 5 “The children from next door have been throwing stones at our windows.” ‘Well, they shoulda'e do it again, otherwise I'll cal the police.” ''m freezing.’ “You'd better have worn a thicker coat. ‘We have to be in Bristol by 4.00. I think we'd better get started 8 I should phone Gary this evening, but it will probably be too late by the time I get home. 9 ‘Tve looked all over the house and can’t find the car keys.” “Well, if they're not here, they must still be in the car” 10 We believe that parents had better pay grandparents to look after thei children. a