ought作为情态动词表示“应该,应当”,它在考试中常常出现。现就其用法、使用时需要注意的点、他与should的区别以及它的考点进行总结。
1.ought用法
ought表示“应当、应该”,常用于批评某人行为,表示责任、义务、正确性。比如: They ought to respect the law.他们应该尊重法律。It ought not to be allowed.它不该得到允许。Mark, you've got a good wife. You ought to take care of her.马克,你娶了个好太太,应该好好照顾她啊。
ought也可以表示愿望、建议及可能性。He ought to be able to take the initiative.他这该能采取主动。You ought to ask a lawyer's advice.你应该去问问律师的意见。Five minutes ought to be enough time.五分钟该足够了。
2.ought要点
ought需要注意的点是:ought要与to连用,to后要跟动词。比如:You ought to give up smoking.你应该戒烟。Such things ought not to be allowed.这种事应该禁止。
注意ought to的疑问句、肯定回答及否定回答形式。比如:“Ought he to give up smoking?” “Yes, he ought to.”“No,you ought not to”。
3.ought to与should
这两词意思相近,都可用来表示职责、义务或对应做某事的劝告。需特别注意的是should反映说话人自己的主观意见,语气更强些,ought to指的是客观情况如法律的规定、义务的要求。比如:
I ought to criticize him before the public but I don't think I will.按说我应当众批评他,但我想我不会那样做。在这句子中表达这样的意思时就不能用should。
4.考点
当表示某事或者某人“本应该”时,要用虚拟语气,ought to后要用完成时。比如:Basically the system ought to have worked.实际上,这个制度本来应该可行。
I realize I ought to have told you about it.我意识到我本该告诉你这件事的。I ought not to have asked you a thing like that. I'm sorry.我本不应该问你这样一件事。对不起。