should vs ought to

ostap77 · Sep 23, 2010

"You should have moved to a new appartment a year ago. Why didn't you do it?"

OR

"You ought to have moved to a new apparment a year ago. Why didn't you do it?"

The first one is more compulsory?

englishhobby · Sep 23, 2010

Sorry, I am not a native speaker (just a Russian teacher of English), but I have always been taught and have taught myself that there is no difference in meaning between the two words. It would be interesting, though, to learn the opinion of the natives.

ostap77 · Sep 23, 2010

english-help.okis.ru said:
Sorry, I am not a native speaker (just a Russian teacher of English), but I have always been taught and have taught myself that there is no difference in meaning between the two words. It would be interesting, though, to learn the opinion of the natives.

Thanks for backing me up!:up: That's why I brought it up.

riquecohen · Sep 23, 2010

ostap77 said:
"You should have moved to a new appartment apartment a year ago. Why didn't you do it?" "Why didn´t you?"

OR

"You ought to have moved to a new apparment a year ago. Why didn't you do it?"

The first one is more compulsory?

They can be used interchangeably. Both sentences mean that it would have been a good idea. Should and ought to are used to express suggestions, advisability, the correct thing, obligation.
"You shouldn´t wear sneakers to a formal event."
"You ought to call your mother. She`s probably worried because you should have been home an hour ago."
"I should go to bed early because I have an exam tomorrow morning."

ostap77 · Sep 23, 2010

riquecohen said:
They can be used interchangeably. Both sentences mean that it would have been a good idea. Should and ought to are used to express suggestions, advisability, the correct thing, obligation.
"You shouldn´t wear sneakers to a formal event."
"You ought to call your mother. She`s probably worried because you should have been home an hour ago."
"I should go to bed early because I have an exam tomorrow morning."

Thanks for clarification!:up: Appreciate it!

e2e4 · Sep 23, 2010

I thought that the second one is more compulsory than the first one.:roll:

This was the order for me

shall
must
ought to
have to
should

ostap77 · Sep 23, 2010

e2e4 said:
I thought that the second one is more compulsory than the first one.:roll:

This was the order for me

shall
must
ought to
have to
should

Any further comments?

Raymott · Sep 24, 2010

e2e4 said:
I thought that the second one is more compulsory than the first one.:roll:

This was the order for me

shall
must, have to
ought to, should
may
shouldn't
mustn't, may not
shan't (rarely used these days)

This is wrong. I've amended it a bit. BUT, the exact meaning of a modal verb is usually contextual.
I don't like the idea of ordering modal verbs rather than learning what they mean but if you're going to have one, it might as well be a somewhat valid one.

should vs ought to

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