Ought to

Ought to Has the same meaning as should, but should is used more frequently. We use ought to in affirmative statements, but it is not very common negative statements or in questions. In negative statements and questions we usually change automatically to should.

Examples

Many young Americans place great value on independence. Many believe that young people ought to leave home after graduation from high school or college. They believe that they ought to enjoy a period of freedom and independence before getting married.

• ACTIVITY 6O

In the United States, many newspapers have an advice column. The writer for the column (columnist) asks readers to send in letters explaining their problems and asking for advice. The columnist then publishes the letter in the newspaper and follows it with some advice.

Some typical problems that people write about when they ask columnists for advice are given below. Imagine that you are the columnist. Use modal auxiliary verbs to offer your opinions and advice. You can discuss each problem with your groupmates first and then write a reply.

Use should and shouldn't to offer advice for this problem. Offer advice only about the future and general present, not about the future and general present, not about the past.

Dear Ms. Know-It-All,

I am twenty-four years old. I live with my mother, but I would like to move out and get my own apartment because my mother still treats me like a child. She complains if I stay out late with my friends. She tries to tell me how to spend my money and how to live my life. We argue all the time.

I love my mother very much, but I need to feel independent. I try to tell her that we will get along much better if we don't live together, but she doesn't want me to leave home. What should I do?

Molly

Dear Molly,

Your problem is very common nowadays. I'm sure our readers will be interested in reading about this. In my opinion, you should move into your own apartment.

(Now continue this answer and offer some specific advice.)

• ACTIVITY 6P

Use should, ought to, and shouldn't to answer these letters.

Dear Ms. Know-It-All,

My father-in-law died about two years ago. Of course my mother-in-law was very upset and lonely, so my husband invited her to live with us. I don't know what to do – I'm going crazy. My mother-in-law and I don't get along very well. She's a wonderful person and is very helpful to me in many ways, but she thinks she's the boss in our home. If I try to discipline the children and tell them that they can't do something, they go running to their grandmother, and she tells them they can do it! My husband and I have no privacy. What's worse is that she constantly criticizes me in my husband behind my back. I'm afraid this is going to break up our marriage. What should I do?

Jane

Dear Ms. Know-It-All,

Our daughter is twenty-one years old and is in her last year of college. She has been dating her boyfriend for about four months. The other day she told us that she moved into his apartment. When we asked her if they plan to get married, she said she doesn't want to get married yet because she is too young We are very upset about this because we believe it is wrong for young people to live together without being married. Our daughter tells us that we are old-fashioned and that all of her friends live with their boyfriends. Is she right? What should we do?

Mr. and Mrs. Old-Fashioned

• ACTIVITY 6Q

Imagine that a friend is coming to you with a problem and asking for your advice. With a groupmate, act out and/or write a dialogue between you and your friend, using questions with should. Answer with should or ought t o. Include some yes/no questions and short answers. Also include some wh - questions (what, when, who, why, and how) with long answers.

1.Your friend comes to you with this story.

We recently found some marijuana in our son's bedroom. He's fifteen; years old. Last year he was an excellent student, but this year he hasn't been studying very much, and he's doing poorly.

2.Another friend comes to you with this story.

Last night I was emptying the pockets of my husband's suit because I wanted to take it to the dry cleaner's and I found several pieces of paper with the names and telephone numbers of women. A few months ago I found papers like this too, but when I asked my husband about them, he got very angry and said I was acting ridiculous and childish. He told me that he loved me very much and that I had no reason to be jealous. Then he refused to talk about it anymore. I think he's seeing other women.