November 4, 2024

Should vs ought to vs must -Modal verbs

Should vs ought to vs must

Use of Should

‘Should’ is used to denote giving our asking for advice means suggestion:

You should start doing Yoga every day. He should be polite.
You should speak English while facing the interview. Being a teacher, you should update your knowledge to make your students wise than other students.
He feels hesitation. He should be outspoken. You shouldn’t be rude to your kids.
Being a good doctor, he should treat and behave properly with his patients. He shouldn’t allow her child to go out at night.
Being a good student, you should be polite and dedicated to your study. You shouldn’t take liquor in more quantity.
He should be punctual. Her sister should take medicine regularly.
Her mother shouldn’t cook spicy food, which is not suitable for her health at all. Should I talk to him and express the incident?
I should wait for a while. You should not argue with elders.  
He shouldn’t talk and drive. You should learn Spanish to get a handsome salary.

Should vs Ought to vs Must – ‘Should’ is used to denote Duty/obligation

He should attend the meeting.

He should tell the information.

He should reach on time.

One Promise should be kept.

He should tell his problem.

‘Should’ is also used past sense of shall that expresses Future in the past:

I told him that I should play chess.

Didn’t I mention you that I should narrate a story?

I told her that I should read a novel.

Note: Above sentences are mentioned used in indirect speech.

Direct speech: I said, “I shall not go with him there.”

Indirect speech: I said that I should not go with him.

My father said to me,” will you buy a new laptop,.”

My father asked me if I should buy a new laptop.

 Must

‘Must’ is used to express which is necessary or very important that happens in present or future (in the place of should):

If you want to reduce your fat, you must run every day. You must work hard in your study.  
You must attend the classes regularly. She is weak. She must take breakfast.
He must attend the conference. The Great Khali must prepare for competition.
You mustn’t tell a lie to me. She mustn’t dine out.
He mustn’t run in the school’s corridor. You mustn’t abuse your neighbours.
She mustn’t beat her child. You mustn’t lend him money. He won’t return you.
She mustn’t go to in-laws. You mustn’t take oily food.

Must’ is used to denote emphasizing an opinion:

I must say, it was a terrible experience of the zigzag tunnel. In my view, Society must be more secure. Otherwise, Robbers may rob the other houses.
I must say, you are really such a nice person; I have never met any person like you in my entire life before. I must admit, I didn’t concern him to be generous when I had met him first in Rohan’s wedding ceremony.
In my opinion, He must join the army. He must admit his mistake.
I would say he must prepare for a marathon. I would say she must prepare for an IAS competition.

 

‘Must’ is used to express what is stated or want to say, that is a good idea. You find another wants to give priority to doing the task:

You must visit your uncle’s home. You are good at sketching; you must join a designing course which is one of the best options to enhance your skills.
Let’s go to the theatre. We must watch Avenger; End game. It’s a worldwide famous movie. If you want to go abroad for further study, you must complete your higher study at Stanford University.

‘Must’ is used as a noun when something is very necessary:

It is a must to deposit money right now. This task is a must to complete at once.
This project is a must for us. Nothing is a must here. Do whatever you want to do.

Strong possibility: ((Should vs ought to vs must) 

It’s 8 o’clock; he must be in the class. He must be his father.
She must be sixteen. She must be pregnant.
He must be a cynic. He must be outspoken.
They must be French. She must be a reporter.
It must be a thermometer.  They must be detectives.
He has a BMW car. He must be rich. He must be an architect.

Progressive forms: (Should vs Ought to vs Must)

He must be joking. Raju must be running in the ground.
She must be taking lunch now. He must be attending the class in a computer centre.
He must be playing football. She must be making a speech at the conference. His father is not here. He must be playing a video game at home.

 

Ought to (Should vs Ought to vs Must)

‘Ought to’ is generally used for should and must. It is used for a strong feeling of moral duty or denoted to correct the actions.

You ought to serve your country from the bottom of your heart. You ought to obey your parents
You ought to love your wife. They ought not to beat juniors.
You ought to take care of your mother. We oughtn’t to jump the traffic light.
She ought to come to school on time. We ought to follow traffic rules.

Purpose: 

Drive carefully lest you should collide with other transport. Do study constantly lest you should fail in your schooling.
You are not allowed to leave the hotel lest you should be attacked. Go there on time lest you should miss the train.
Work with all your efforts lest you should lose your money on this project. Reach at assembly on time lest you should miss the prayer.

‘Should’ is also used to denote condition “in the sense of IF.”

‘Should’ you study in wee hours, you will get good marks in your exams. ‘Should’ you run every day, you will reduce your fat.
 
Exercise I:

Complete the sentences with the help of some listed modal verbs (Should vs ought to vs must) below:

 Can, Might, must, could, have to, should,

1.        He travelled up to 500 miles. He ………. be tired after a long journey. He ……… go to bed early at night.

2.        My friend doesn’t have an interest in watching movies at the theatre. If you convince him. He ………… join us.

3.        My friend has known this city for a long time. He …….. know these places.

4.        Don’t climb the mountain, you ……….. fell.

5.        She doesn’t know how to speak English. She ………. not explain to English man.

6.        If he goes with us, we ……… help him with money.

7.        Don’t be over smart; you…….. fail in solving the puzzle.

8.        Having finished his work, he ……….. not go outside late at night.

9.        You look powerful.  ………. you lift this box?

10.      He is brilliant. He ……… solve this puzzle in a few seconds.

11.      When I was young, I …….. walk for ten miles every day.

12.      When my brother was studying in the fifth standard. He …….. speak English fluently.

13.      We ……… do Yoga for our internal health.

14.      If he doesn’t study, he ……… also fail this year again.

15       . Teacher says to us that we ……….. obey the parents.

 
Exercise II:

Complete the sentence with the given hints (Should vs ought to vs must).

1.        ‘Should’ you ……….  (study)  five hours a day, you will get success in your competition.   (condition)

2.        You ………… love your kids.   (moral duty)

3.        Solve the sums carefully lest you ………. Make mistakes.   (purpose)

4.        She ………… look after her mother-in-law.  (moral duty)

5.        He must be ………(hide) the truth.

6.        She must ………. Studying now.

7.        We ……… follow the instructions of government policy due to the covid 19 virus.  (moral duty)

8.        We …………. tease the poor.    (moral duty)

9.        In my view, Indians ……… not go outside unnecessarily. Citizens …….. stay at home due to the coronavirus.

10.      You ……….. learn English. It will help you in your interview.   (advice)

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