Ought to in inglese
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Ought to
Ought to ha un significato simile a should. Entrambi esprimono un consiglio al condizionale.
You ought to pay him back shortly. Dovresti rimborsarlo velocemente.
She oughtn't speak so loudly. Non dovresti parlare così forte.
You ought not (to) speak with your mouth full. Non dovrsti parlare a bocca piena.
Meno frequente di should, ought è sempre seguito da un verbo all’infinito con to, tranne alla forma interrogativa, in cui non è necessario aggiungere to:
You ought not (to) ask so many questions. Non dovresti fare tante domande.
Nota: ought to non ha una forma al passato. Si usa solo con riferimento al presente e al futuro. Ought to have + past participle si usa per esprimere un rimpianto (passato):
I ought to have kissed him when I had the chance. Avrei dovuto baciarlo quando ne avevo l'occasione.
Esercizio 1
Bob to be more careful when replacing the network cables. Last week, he used a paper clip to connect a circuit and it caught fire and nearly burned down his office. We call the fire department.
Bob ought 1 to be more careful when replacing the network cables. Last week, he used a paper clip to connect a circuit and it caught fire and nearly burned down his office. We had to 2 call the fire department.
1 ought: We use 'ought' here to express that Bob 'should' be more careful. The phrase 'ought to' expresses a suggestion, and is often synonymous with 'should', though not always replaceable with 'should'.
1 must: We cannot use 'must' here because it cannot precede the preposition 'to'. However, one might say 'You must be more careful'.
1 should: We cannot use 'should' here because it cannot precede the preposition 'to'. However, one might say 'You should be more careful'.
2 had to: We use 'had to' here to express the necessity of the speaker to call the fire department after Bob's electrical fire. This is the best choice here.
2 ought to: Because we know the action of Bob's fire took place in the past, we cannot use 'ought to' which indicates a conditional situation, almost always in the future. We know that the fire took place in the past because of the phrase 'last week'.
2 should: Because we are speaking in the past tense, we cannot use 'should' which expresses a future or conditional situation.
Esercizio 2
Last week, we go on a class trip to the local prison. Our teacher said he wanted to show us what happen to us if we didn't learn our multiplication tables. When we arrived, the prisoners were having an algebra class. My friend Pete asked them if they were in prison because they didn't know their multiplication tables, and they all said 'No'. They said they were in jail because the judges didn't know how to count. 'I stole two cars and got twelve years in prison,' said one. 'And that just doesn't add up. If you really want to stay out of prison, forget mathematics. You study law!'
Last week, we had to 1 go on a class trip to the local prison. Our teacher said he wanted to show us what would 2 happen to us if we didn't learn our multiplication tables. When we arrived, the prisoners were having an algebra class. My friend Pete asked them if they were in prison because they didn't know their multiplication tables, and they all said 'No'. They said they were in jail because the judges didn't know how to count. 'I stole two cars and got twelve years in prison,' said one. 'And that just doesn't add up. If you really want to stay out of prison, forget mathematics. You ought to 3 study law!'
1 had to: This is the best choice here. Because the narrator is speaking about an obligation in the past (the necessity of going on the class trip), we use 'had to' to correctly complete the construction.
1 ought to: Because the narrator is speaking about a past event (last week), we cannot use 'ought to', which is a present tense auxiliary and expresses a sense of a strong suggestion, and is usually used in reference to the future.
1 must: Because the narrator is speaking about a past event (last week), we cannot use 'must', which is a present tense auxiliary and which expresses a sense of obligation and usually refers to the future. Also, 'must to' is grammatically incorrect.
1 need to: Because the narrator is speaking about a past event (last week), we cannot use 'need to', which is a present tense auxiliary and expresses a sense of obligation and usually refers to the future.
2 would: This is the best choice here. Because the teacher is expressing a 'possibility', we use the conditional auxiliary 'would' to show what 'may or may not' happen to the children 'if' they do not learn their multiplication tables.
2 needs: 'Needs happen to us' is grammatically incorrect. The correct construction would be: 'has to happen to us'. If the teacher said this, he would be expressing that if the children don't learn their multiplication, they deserve to be in prison.
2 ought: 'Ought happen to us' is grammatically incorrect. The correct construction would be: 'has to happen to us'. If the teacher said this, he would be expressing that if the children don't learn their multiplication, they deserve to be in prison.
2 has: 'Has happen to us' is grammatically incorrect. The correct construction would be: 'has to happen to us'. If the teacher said this, he would be expressing that if the children don't learn their multiplication, they deserve to be in prison.
3 ought to: This is the best choice here. The prisoner is giving the children advice. He says that it would be best for them to study law. 'Ought to' expresses a strong suggestion, and is generally used to give advice about the future.
3 need: 'You need study law' is grammatically incorrect. We must say: 'You need to study law'.
3 must to: 'You must to study law' is grammatically incorrect. We must say: 'You must study law', although this is an uncommon construction which emphasizes obligation rather than suggestion.
3 should to: 'You should to study law' is grammatically incorrect. We say: 'You should study law' to indicate this suggestion.
Esercizio 3
Philip: Hey, Susie. I'm sorry I couldn't see you this weekend. I visit a sick friend.
Susie: You weren't invited.
Philip: I can see you're having some problems with dry skin. Your hands are really pale. You use lotion.
Susie: Walk away before I kick you in the head.
Susie: You weren't invited.
Philip: I can see you're having some problems with dry skin. Your hands are really pale. You use lotion.
Susie: Walk away before I kick you in the head.
Philip: Hey, Susie. I'm sorry I couldn't see you this weekend. I had to 1 visit a sick friend.
Susie: You weren't invited.
Philip: I can see you're having some problems with dry skin. Your hands are really pale. You ought to 2 use lotion.
Susie: Walk away before I kick you in the head.
Susie: You weren't invited.
Philip: I can see you're having some problems with dry skin. Your hands are really pale. You ought to 2 use lotion.
Susie: Walk away before I kick you in the head.
1 had to: This is the best choice here. Because Philip is speaking of the past, we must use 'had to' to express the obligation of Philip's visit to his sick friend, in the past tense. 'This weekend' can refer either to the weekend which just passed, or the weekend coming up.
1 ought to: Because Philip is speaking about a past event (this weekend actually refers to last weekend), we cannot use 'ought to', which is a present tense auxiliary and which often expresses a sense of the future.
1 should: Because Philip is speaking about a past event (this weekend actually refers to last weekend), we cannot use 'should', which is a present tense auxiliary and which often expresses a sense of the future.
1 mustn't: Because Philip is speaking about a past event (last weekend), we cannot use 'mustn't', a present tense auxiliary and which CANNOT be used to express obligation in the past. Also, Philip is saying that he 'did visit' a friend, so the negative construction 'must not' doesn't make sense in this context.
2 ought to: This is the best choice here. Philip is suggesting that Susie use lotion for her dry skin. 'Ought to' best expresses this sense of suggestion. Note that constructions using 'ought to' generally suggest actions which take place in the future.
2 had to: Because Philip is making a suggestion about a future (conditional) activity, we cannot use the past tense form of the verb 'had' in this case.
2 need: 'You need use lotion' is grammatically incorrect. We could say: 'You need to use lotion' to express the same suggestion correctly.
2 mustn't: Because Philip is making an affirmative suggestion, it does not make sense that he would tell Susie she 'must not' use lotion.
Esercizio 4
Which of the following statements are TRUE?
Be careful, more than one answer could be correct!
Be careful, more than one answer could be correct!
Which of the following statements are TRUE?
Be careful, more than one answer could be correct!
Be careful, more than one answer could be correct!
This is a good choice. Brian says "...you are very good at schmoozing, sir." To schmooze means to speak easily with others in a social context. For example, to be able to hold conversations, give compliments, ask the right questions and so on.
This statement is true. Bruno states that he is "curious to know what he is going to talk about". This means he wants to know what the Harold Warbuckle has to say. To be "curious" is synonymous with "interested" in this context. For example: "I overheard my name spoken in the boardroom. I am curious to know why they were talking about me!"
This is not a true statement. Brian says "You ought to attend" To "attend" means to go to the event, to participate or take part. The verb "ought" is a modal verb used when giving advice. It is used in the same way as "should", so Brian means "It would be good for you to attend". "To skip (an event)" is to not go to it.
This is incorrect. Brian gives Bruno the morning mail. "Mail" is letters, bills, postcards, packages - anything that the postman brings. "Mail" does not mean newspaper.
Esercizio 5
Rachid: You to look for a new job, Moira. You are much better than this!
Moira: You’re right, Rachid. I probably done that years ago.
Rachid: You think so?
Moira: I probably have quit as soon as I met Brent…
Moira: You’re right, Rachid. I probably done that years ago.
Rachid: You think so?
Moira: I probably have quit as soon as I met Brent…
Rachid: You ought 1 to look for a new job, Moira. You are much better than this!
Moira: You’re right, Rachid. I probably ought to have 2 done that years ago.
Rachid: You think so?
Moira: I probably should 3 have quit as soon as I met Brent…
Moira: You’re right, Rachid. I probably ought to have 2 done that years ago.
Rachid: You think so?
Moira: I probably should 3 have quit as soon as I met Brent…
1 ought: "You ought to" has the same meaning as "you should". Rachid is expressing a recommendation for a future action for Moira. Another example: "They ought to live together – they're so well suited!".
1 should: "Should" cannot be used before a full infinitive verb. In other words, we cannot say "should to". We could use "should" here if we removed the word "to": "You should look for a new job".
1 must: "Must" cannot be used before a full infinitive verb. In other words, we cannot say "must to". We could use "must" here if we removed the word "to": "You must look for a new job". Note that using "must" would imply a sense of obligation or necessity, which is stronger than a recommendation.
2 ought to have: Moira uses the phrasing "ought to have", followed by the past participle "done", to express regret about the past. She is saying that she should have looked for a new job several years ago. Another example: "I ought to have listened to my mother's advice about buying shares".
2 ought to: We cannot use "ought to" immediately before a past participle like "done". "Ought to" is followed by an infinitive verb and refers to a future action which is a good idea. For example: "I ought to learn how to ride a bike one of these days".
2 ought: When used in affirmative sentences, "ought" must be followed by the word "to". We can only omit "to" in negative sentences with "ought". For examples: "You ought to buy your cousin a gift"; "You oughtn't buy your cousin a gift".
3 should: "I should have quit" has the same meaning as "I ought to have quit". Again, Moira is expressing regret about the past: if she had quit her job at the moment when she met Brent, it would have been better. Another example: "I should have accepted their offer to buy the company".
3 ought: When used in affirmative sentences, "ought" must be followed by the word "to": here, we would say "I ought to have quit". We can only omit "to" in negative sentences with "ought". For examples: "You ought to apologize"; "You oughtn't apologize".
3 must: We cannot use the verb "must" to refer to regret about the past. If Moira said "I must have quit" here, this would imply that she is concluding that she did quit when she met Brent, which is not the case. For example: "I don't have my phone! I must have left it at home!" (I deduce that I left my phone at home).
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