English Dictionary
Definition ought in British English
ought
modal verb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.
These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
modal verb
What are red words?
Around 90% of spoken and written English relies on just 7,500 common words.These words are highlighted in red and are ranked using a star system.
- One-star words are commonly used
- Two-star words are even more common
- Three-star words are the most frequently used
Ought is usually followed by ‘to’ and an infinitive: You ought to tell the truth. Sometimes it is used without ‘to’ or a following infinitive in a formal way: I don’t practise as often as I ought. It is also used in an informal way followed by ‘to’ but no following infinitive: I don’t spend as much time with them as I ought to.
Ought does not change its form, so the third person singular form does not end in ‘-s’: She ought to try a little harder.
Questions and negatives are formed without ‘do’: You ought not to be here.Ought I to tell my parents? The negative short form oughtn’t can also be used, and this is less formal.
There is no past tense but ought to have can be used for referring to actions that did not happen but should have, or to actions that have probably happened: I ought to have come earlier.They ought to have arrived by now.
Should can be used in the same way as ought to and is more common, especially in negatives and questions.
You ought to get up earlier.
There ought to be a ban on cigarette advertising.
