词汇 | grammar_british-grammar_ought-to |
释义 | Ought toOught to is a semi-modal verb because it is in some ways like a modal verb and in some ways like a main verb. For example, unlike modal verbs, it is followed by to, but like modal verbs, it does not change form for person:
Ought to: formAffirmativeOught to comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb):
Ought to cannot be used with another modal verb:
NegativeThe negative is formed by adding ‘not’ after ought (ought not to). It can be contracted to oughtn’t to. We don’t use don’t, doesn’t, didn’t with ought to:
The negative of ought to is not common. We usually use shouldn’t or should not instead:
QuestionsThe subject and ought to change position to form questions. We don’t use do, does, did:
Warning: The question form of ought to is not very common. It is very formal. We usually use should instead. Ought to: usesWhat is desired or idealWe use ought to when talking about things which are desired or ideal:
We use ought to have + -ed form to talk about things that were desired or ideal in the past but which didn’t happen. It can express regret:
What is likelyWe can use ought to when we talk about what is likely or probable:
Ought to or should?Ought to and should are similar in meaning. Should is more common than ought to. Ought to is more formal than should:
Spoken English: In speaking, we normally use should as a tag for clauses with ought to:
See also: Modality: introduction Tags |
随便看 |
反思网英语在线翻译词典收录了377474条英语词汇在线翻译词条,基本涵盖了全部常用英语词汇的中英文双语翻译及用法,是英语学习的有利工具。