language note: Ought to is a phrasal modal verb. It is used with the base form of a verb. The negative formof ought to is ought not to, which is sometimes shortened to oughtn't to in spoken English.
1. phrase
You use ought to to mean that it is morally right to do a particular thing or that it is morally right for a particular situation to exist, especially when giving or asking for advice or opinions.
If you get something good, you ought to share it.
People who own a bit of money ought to have a voice in saying where it goes.
You ought to be ashamed of yourselves. You've created this problem.
2. phrase
You use ought to when saying that you think it is a good idea and important for you or someone else to do a particular thing, especially when giving or askingfor advice or opinions.
You don't have to be alone with him and I don't think you ought to be.
You ought to ask a lawyer's advice.
She wondered if she ought to take some coffee out to Alfred.
We ought not to be quarrelling now.
3. phrase
You use ought to to indicate that you expect something to be true or to happen. You use ought to have to indicate that you expect something to have happened already.
'This ought to be fun,' he told Alex, eyes gleaming.
4. phrase
You use ought to to indicate that you think that something should be the case, but might not be.
By rights the Social Democrats ought to be the favourites in the election. But nothinglooks less certain.
Though this gives them a nice feeling, it really ought to worry them.
5. phrase
You use ought to to indicate that you think that something has happened because of what you know about the situation, but you are not certain.
[vagueness]
He ought to have reached the house some time ago.
6. phrase
You use ought to have with a past participle to indicate that something was expected to happen or be the case, but it did nothappen or was not the case.
Basically the system ought to have worked.
The money to build the power station ought to have been sufficient.
7. phrase
You use ought to have with a past participle to indicate that although it was best or correct for someone to do something in the past, they did not actually do it.
I realize I ought to have told you about it.
Perhaps we ought to have trusted people more.
I ought not to have asked you a thing like that. I'm sorry.
I'm beginning to feel now we oughtn't to have let her go away like that.
8. phrase
You use ought to when politely telling someone that you must do something, for example that you must leave.
[politeness]
I really ought to be getting back now.
I think I ought to go.
English Easy Learning GrammarModal verbsModal verbs are a particular kind of auxiliary. Look, I can do it! – Oh yes! So you can. Can I use your phone? – Of course you can. Do you think she will ... Read more
English Easy Learning GrammarOught toThe use of ought to is similar to should, but it is much less frequent. Like should, the verb ought to does not have a past form. It is only used with ... Read more
ought in British English1
(ɔːt)
verb(foll by to; takes an infinitive or implied infinitive)
1.
to indicate duty or obligation
you ought to pay your dues
2.
to express prudent expediency
you ought to be more careful with your money
3.
(usually with reference to future time) to express probability or expectation
you ought to finish this work by Friday
4.
to express a desire or wish on the part of the speaker
you ought to come next week
▶ USAGE In correct English, ought is not used with did or had. I ought not to do it, not I didn't ought to do it; I ought not to have done it, not I hadn't ought to have done it
Word origin
Old English āhte, past tense of āgan to owe; related to Gothic aihta
ought in British English2
(ɔːt)
pronoun, adverb
a variant spelling of aught1
ought in British English3
(ɔːt)
noun
a less common word for nought (sense 1)
Word origin
C19: mistaken division of a nought as an ought; see nought
ought in American English1
(ɔt)
auxiliary verb used with infinitives and meaning:
1.
to be compelled by obligation or duty [he ought to pay his debts] or by desirability
you ought to eat more
2.
to be expected or likely
it ought to be over soon
noun
3.
obligation or duty
Word origin
orig., pt. of owe: ME aughte < OE ahte, pp. of agan, owe
ought in American English2
(ɔt)
noun
1.
anything whatever; aught
adverb
2. Archaic
to any degree; at all; aught
Word origin
var. of aught
ought in American English3
(ɔt)
noun
a nought; the figure zero (0)
Word origin
< (a n)ought
Examples of 'ought' in a sentence
ought
Everyone agrees that somebody, somewhere, ought to do something to shelter the public from this polluted deluge of information.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I feel I ought to do something but it is none of my business.
The Sun (2016)
We all have areas where we ought to use our strengths to overcome our weaknesses.
Christianity Today (2000)
That ought to be enough to get you going.
The Times Literary Supplement (2010)
Which is something that really ought to be said about him.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Now these must be and ought to be poor.
Eccleshall, Robert English Conservatism since the Restoration: An introduction and anthology (1990)
That ought to be enough for now.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
That is something that really ought to change.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Surely that ought to be enough for us to have him to deported?
The Sun (2012)
Something similar ought to be true of universities.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
He knew he ought to do something.
Elizabeth Gaskell Wives and Daughters (1864)
Just thought you ought to know ).
The Sun (2015)
One ought to use some of one's timber in that way.
George Eliot Middlemarch (1872)
We ought to use it.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I really ought to sue ) should be covered with health warnings.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They are (and ought to be ) swayed by political issues.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Ethel, finding that there were two ways of viewing the gentleman, doubted whether she ought to express her opinion.
Charlotte M. Yonge The Daisy Chain (1837)
He said that this ought to be enough for'reasonable people' and that anything morespecific would undermine the rest of his premiership.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That's worth hard cash to the businesses who are paying the bills, and ought to be enough to keep this service in the air.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
ought
British English: ought /ɔːt/ VERB
If someone ought to do something, it is the right thing to do.
You ought to read this book.
American English: ought
Arabic: يَنْبَغِي أَن
Brazilian Portuguese: dever
Chinese: 应该做
Croatian: trebati
Czech: měl by
Danish: burde
Dutch: moeten
European Spanish: tener
Finnish: pitäisi
French: il faut
German: müssen
Greek: πρέπει
Italian: dovere
Japanese: ･･･するべきだ
Korean: ~해야 한다
Norwegian: burde
Polish: mieć powinność
European Portuguese: dever
Romanian: a trebui
Russian: следует
Latin American Spanish: deber
Swedish: borde
Thai: ควรจะ
Turkish: zorunda olmak
Ukrainian: виражає повинність
Vietnamese: nên
Chinese translation of 'ought'
ought
(ɔːt)
Word forms:ptought
aux vb
(indicating advisability)
you ought to see a doctor你应(應)该(該)去看医(醫)生 (nǐ yīnggāi qù kàn yīshēng)
(indicating likelihood)
he ought to be there now他现(現)在应(應)该(該)到那儿(兒)了 (tā xiànzài yīnggāi dào nàr le)
this ought to be easy (but it isn't) 这(這)本该(該)挺容易的 (zhè běn gāi tǐng róngyì de)
you ought to have been more careful你早该(該)更当(當)心点(點)的 (nǐ zǎo gāi gèng dāngxīn diǎn de)
he ought to have arrived by now他这(這)会(會)儿(兒)该(該)到了 (tā zhèhuìr gāi dào le)
All related terms of 'ought'
you ought to
你应(應)该(該) nǐ yīnggāi
this ought to be easy
( but it isn't ) 这(這)本该(該)挺容易的 zhè běn gāi tǐng róngyì de
he ought to be there now
他现(現)在应(應)该(該)到那儿(兒)了 tā xiànzài yīnggāi dào nàr le