21. Focus on: phrasal verbs and shouldandought to

Should and ought to have two important meanings in English. One is familiar to most students, but the other is not.

A good idea: should and ought to

Should and ought to can be used to say that doing something is a good idea because it will benefit the person you are speaking about:

You should zip up your coat.

You ought to zip up your coat.

or because the person you are speaking about is expected, though not required, to do something:

You should bring in the groceries for your mother.

You ought to bring in the groceries for your mother.

Although should and ought are modal auxiliary verbs, ought must be used with to. In other words, ought does not equal should, ought to equals should. Never say should to.