Ought
/ɔːt/
modal verbB2
Definition
"Ought" shows what someone should do or what is the right or good thing to do. It can also suggest a likely or expected action. It is similar to "should," but a bit more formal or old-fashioned. People use it when giving advice or talking about moral duties.
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See It in Action
Expressing duty or moral advice
- •You ought to finish your homework before playing.
- •People ought to be kind to others.
- •He ought to apologize for being late.
Expressing expectation or probability
- •The train ought to arrive by 7 p.m.
- •She ought to know the answer by now.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ought" like "should" (A2 word), but a little more formal and polite
- ✓Imagine a teacher telling students what they ought to do to succeed—it's advice about the right choice
- ✓It's the feeling when you know what is the right thing, even if it is hard or not fun
- ✓Sounds like "aught" → imagine someone saying "You aught to try!" like a gentle push to do the right thing
- ✓Remember old books or movies where characters say "You ought to be careful"—it sounds respectful and serious
- ✓NOT like "must" (strong rule or law)—"ought" is softer, more like a suggestion or moral advice
- ✓NOT like "can" (ability)—"ought" is about what is right, not what is possible
- ✓NOT like "will" (future action)—"ought" talks about what should happen, not what will happen for sure
Try Other Words
- •Should: giving advice or moral duty (Use in most everyday situations, less formal)
- •Must: strong obligation or necessity (Use when something is very important or required)
- •Have to: necessity or requirement (Use when rules or laws require something)
- •Supposed to: expectation or duty (Use when talking about what is expected or planned)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (No prefix or suffix; a simple modal verb)
- •Etymology: From Old English "ahte," past tense of "agan" meaning "to own, possess," later used to express obligation
- •Historical development: Used since Old English times to show duty or moral obligation; meaning shifted from ownership to what is right or expected
- •Modern usage: Mainly used to give advice or talk about what is right; less common in casual speech but still understood and used in formal or written English
Reflect & Connect
•How does "ought" change the meaning of a sentence compared to "must" or "should"?
•Can you think of a situation where using "ought" sounds better than "should"? Why?
Fill in the blanks
1.You ought to ___ your teeth every day to keep them healthy.
2.If you want to be polite, you ought to ___ when someone helps you.
3.The weather ought to ___ nice tomorrow because the sky is clear now.
4.He ought to ___ more carefully because this task is important.
5.Unlike "must," "ought" is ___ strong and more like advice or suggestion.
6.When someone says "You ought to try," they are giving ___, not a rule.
7.The students ought to ___ their homework before the test next week.