"Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to" also expresses assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea that something is deserved. "Ought not" (without "to") is used to advise against doing something, although Americans prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not."
Examples:
* You ought to stop smoking. recommendation
* Jim ought to get the promotion. It is expected because he deserves it.
* This stock ought to increase in value. probability
* Mark ought not drink so much. advice against something (notice there is no "to")
Using "Ought to" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "ought to" behaves in different contexts.
"Shall" is used to indicate future action. It is most commonly used in sentences with "I" or "we," and is often found in suggestions, such as "Shall we go?" "Shall" is also frequently used in promises or voluntary actions. In formal English, the use of "shall" to describe future events often expresses inevitability or predestination. "Shall" is much more commonly heard in British English than in American English; Americans prefer to use other forms, although they do sometimes use "shall" in suggestions or formalized language.
Examples:
* Shall I help you? [suggestion]
* I shall never forget where I came from. [promise]
* He shall become our next king. [predestination]
* I'm afraid Mr. Smith shall become our new director. [inevitability]
"Should" is most commonly used to make recommendations or give advice. It can also be used to express obligation as well as expectation.
Examples:
* When you go to Berlin, you should visit the palaces in Potsdam. recommendation
* You should focus more on your family and less on work. advice
* I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. obligation
* By now, they should already be in Dubai. expectation
Using "Should" in Present, Past, and Future
Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "should" behaves in different contexts.
"Will" is used with promises or voluntary actions that take place in the future. "Will" can also be used to make predictions about the future. For more information on using "will" and associated exercises, visit the Simple Future section of our Verb Tense Tutorial.
Examples:
* I promise that I will write you every single day. [promise]
* I will make dinner tonight. [voluntary action]
* He thinks it will rain tomorrow. [prediction]
"Would" is most commonly used to create conditional verb forms. It also serves as the past form of the modal verb "will." Additionally, "would" can indicate repetition in the past.
Examples:
* If he were an actor, he would be in adventure movies. [conditional]
* I knew that she would be very successful in her career. [past of "will"]
* When they first met, they would always have picnics on the beach. [repetition]
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Modal Verb Tutorial
