SHOULD, OUGHT TO
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
• We use “should” and “ought to” to give (or ask) advice, make recommendations, talk about
obligation and expectations.
When you go to Rio de Janeiro, you should visit Christ the Redeemer.
You should focus more on your family and less on work.
I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM.
By now, they should already be in São Paulo.
Should I buy a new TV?
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
• We use “should” and “ought to” to give (or ask) advice, make recommendations, talk about
obligation and expectations.
When you go to Rio de Janeiro, you should visit Christ the Redeemer. (recommendation)
You should focus more on your family and less on work. (give advice)
I really should be in the office by 7:00 AM. (Obligation)
By now, they should already be in São Paulo. (expectation)
Should I buy a new TV? (ask for advice)
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
• The only difference between should and ought to is its formality. Ought to is more formal than
should.
You should watch this TV program tonight.
Terri ought to watch it too.
You shouldn’t go to the movies today, it’s raining a lot!
Should I buy a new TV set?
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
• Ought to has a negative and interrogative form, but it isn’t common. It usually use should or
shouldn’t.
I shouldn’t talk to you.
I ought not to talk to you.
Should I stay or should I go?
Ought I to stay or ought I to go?
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
• FORMS OF SHOULD:
AFFIRMATIVE: SUBJ + SHOULD + VERB BASE FORM + COMPLEMENT.
He should visit his family.
NEGATIVE: SUBJ + SHOULD NOT (SHOULDN’T) + V. BASE FORM + COMPLEMENT.
They shouldn’t take the money.
INTERROGATIVE: SHOULD + SUBJECT + V. BASE FORM + COMPLEMENT?
Should I play the piano?
INTERROGATIVE WH-QUESTIONS: WQ-QUESTION (what, why, which, where, who, how, when) + SHOULD +
SUBJ + V. BASE FORM + COMPL?
What should I do now?
SHOULD AND OUGHT TO
• FORMS OF OUGHT TO:
AFFIRMATIVE: SUBJ + OUGHT TO+ VERB BASE FORM + COMPLEMENT.
He ought to visit his family.
NEGATIVE: SUBJ + OUGHT NOT TO + V. BASE FORM + COMPLEMENT.
They ought not to take the money.
INTERROGATIVE: OUGHT + SUBJECT + TO + V. BASE FORM + COMPLEMENT?
Ought I to play the piano?
INTERROGATIVE WH-QUESTIONS: WQ-QUESTION + OUGHT + SUBJ + TO + V. BASE FORM +
COMPL?
What ought I to do now?
MAY AND MIGHT
I MIGHT = PROBABILITY
I THINK
I WANT BUT I AM NOT SURE
I GUESS
MAYBE
I WILL (about future)
MAY AND MIGHT (modals)
● We use MAY and MIGHT when we want to talk about possibility or probability.
(Assumptions)
● We use both in the present and future.
● MAY is used when the chances to something happens are high.
I might eat something now.
He may lose his job.
We may go on vacation.
I may have a dessert after dinner.
MAY AND MIGHT
● We can use may to express wishes (desejos):
May you have a good day.
MAY AND MIGHT
● Observe that, the form to create a sentence with may is:
Subject + may + verb base form + complement
● May is a modal verb, because of this, the main verb does not change with the
subject in the third person of the singular.
He may go today.
Carla may call you tomorrow.
MAY AND MIGHT
● MIGHT is used when the chances to something happens are lower
If you hurry, you might get there on time.
She might be there tomorrow.
MAY AND MIGHT
● Observe that, the form to create a sentence with might is:
Subject + might + verb base form + complement
● Might is a modal verb, because of this, the main verb does not change with the
subject in the third person of the singular.
He might go today.
Carla might call you tomorrow.
MAY AND MIGHT
● We can use both to talk about future possibilities:
It might rain later (it is possible that it will rain)
He's very good, in fact, I think he may win the competition.
I might go to the movies tonight. (Though I'm not sure)
I may go to the movies tonight.
MAY AND MIGHT
● We can use both to talk about permission, to give permission:
You may go now. – You can go now.
If you finished the exam, you may leave the room. – You can leave the room.
MAY AND MIGHT
● We can use both to talk about permission, to give permission or ask a
permission:
You may go now.
If you finished the exam, you may leave the room.
May I go to the bathroom?
May I sit with you? / Can I sit with you?
Might we ask you a question? / Can we ask you a question?
MAY AND MIGHT
● We can use both to talk about permission, to give permission or ask a
permission:
You may go now.
If you finished the exam, you may leave the room.
May I go to the bathroom?
May I sit with you? / Can I sit with you?
Might we ask you a question? / Can we ask you a question?
MAY NOT AND MIGHT NOT
● We can use both to talk about negative possibility:
Their information might not/may not be correct.
He might not want to go.
I may not call you because I’m busy.
EXERCISE
Complete the sentences below by using ‘may (not)’ and ‘might (not)’ to describe possibility.
1. There are some dark clouds in the sky. [may]
2. It’s nine-thirty and Jack feels tired. [might]
3. My class starts soon, but I’m not sure where the classroom is. [may not]
4. Sarah has some money and she is at a clothing store. [might]
5. Kelly and Jenny are friends, but they live in different cities. They are both traveling to Washington this summer. [may]
6. It’s cold outside, but James isn’t wearing a jacket. [might]
7. My brother is at a restaurant and he feels a little hungry. [may]
8. I should go to work today, but I feel a little sick. [might not]
Complete the sentences below by using ‘may (not)’ and ‘might (not)’ to describe possibility.
1. There are some dark clouds in the sky. [may] It may rain
2. It’s nine-thirty and Jack feels tired. [might] Jack might go to bed.
3. My class starts soon, but I’m not sure where the classroom is. [may not] . I may not be on time.
4. Sarah has some money and she is at a clothing store. [might] Sarah might buy some clothes.
5. Kelly and Jenny are friends, but they live in different cities. They are both traveling to Washington this summer.
[may]
They may see each other.
6. It’s cold outside, but James isn’t wearing a jacket. [might] James might get sick.
7. My brother is at a restaurant and he feels a little hungry. [may] My brother may buy some food.
8. I should go to work today, but I feel a little sick. [might not] I might not go to work today.
AUX VERBS
1. Present (am, is, are) – (do, does)
2. Future (will) (am going)
3. Past (did)
4. Modals (can + verb) + (should + verb) (would = -ria)