Learn English 100% free...Get 1 free lesson per week // Add a new lesson
Log in!

Click here to log in
New account
Millions of accounts created on our sites.
JOIN our free club and learn English now!



  • Home
  • Print
  • Guestbook
  • Report a bug




  • Get a free English lesson every week!
    Click here!





    Partners:
    - Our other sites
       


    Learn English > English lessons and exercises > English test #130763: Focus sur SHOULD/ OUGHT TO: necessity and duty.
    >Warning: this test is waiting for approval. It may contain errors.





    > Other English exercises on the same topic: Modals [Change theme]
    > Double-click on words you don't understand.


    Focus sur SHOULD/ OUGHT TO: necessity and duty. - English lesson


    After reviewing 'possibility, 'physical and intellectual ability' with CAN/ COULD, 'permission and eventuality' with MAY/ MIGHT,  

    and 'obligation', and 'near certainty' with MUST, in this FOCUS,

    we willl now review 'necessity and duty' with SHOULD. 

     

    1) In the affirmative form, SHOULD expresses WHAT IS IDEAL OR DESIRED

    the ideal or best thing to do in a situation.

    - There should be traffic lights at this dangerous crossroads.

     

    ✔️  In the past, SHOULD HAVE + past participle expresses things which used to be  ideal in the past, but which didn't take place. Therefore, it may often express a regret. 

    - I should have studied harder in high school, I could have gone to College...

     

    2) Should is used to give advice or to make suggestions. 

    - You should tell him the truth as soon as you see him. 

    - He should leave that unfinished work until tomorrow. 

     

    ✔️  Should is used to ask suggested questions:

    This comes to suggesting somebody should do something.

    - Should we go to the park now, it may rain this afternoon... ?

     

    3) In the negative form, SHOULD NOT (contracted in SHOULDN'T) expresses a reproach, a blame. 

    - You shouldn't have let the boy go out. His parents don't let him... 

     

    4) SHOULD may express what is likely to happen.

    - There should be a lot of young people at Tom's party... He has so many friends.

     

    5) SHOULD and OUGHT TO:

    Should is used in everyday language, whereas ought to is more formal.

    It is seldom used in interrogative and negative sentences (except in very formal 

    language). In that case, use SHOULD  (but 'oughtn't to' exists and is correct.) 


    OUGHT TO shows a sense of obligation and of duty which is stronger than SHOULD

    It suggests that something is necessary; it's the right thing to do. It's rather used to express a moral or ethical obligation. (real or felt) 

    - You've been rude and ought to apologise to him immediately. 

     

    BE CAREFUL: OUGHT is always followed by TO, SHOULD is never!

     

    Here are the different uses of 'should' in order to express necessity and duty. You'll have to check whether the action was done, or not... Should enables us to suggest, to express regrets, but also to advise or blame someone... 

    Therefore, should is very useful... It's ready to help you out in lots of circumstances!  

    We only need to know what to do with this help... 

     



    Intermediate Twitter Share
    English exercise "Focus sur SHOULD/ OUGHT TO: necessity and duty." created by here4u with The test builder. [More lessons & exercises from here4u]
    Click here to see the current stats of this English test

    Please log in to save your progress.


    1. If you want to play with your friends, you your room before.



    2. 'Oh dear... I’m feeling sick… I so much chocolate.’



    3. Debbie out so late at night after school. She'll be tired in the morning.



    4. It’s raining again… sunny at that time of year.



    5. You away that picture of yourself… For sure, your GrandMa would like to have it a lot.



    6. There fewer people in the station at that time of day…



    7. We those who gave their lives for our countries…



    8. The price of petrol … It’s so expensive…



    9. 'Yes, in my opinion, you home so as to thank your grandparents for this great present…’



    10. There so many people at the beach today. The ocean is freezing.












    End of the free exercise to learn English: Focus sur SHOULD/ OUGHT TO: necessity and duty.
    A free English exercise to learn English.
    Other English exercises on the same topic : Modals | All our lessons and exercises