be to/ ought to/ might as well/ have to

Question

1. You are to do your homework before you watch TV.

I saw #1 in my book and thought other similar words' usage.

2. You should do your homework before you watch TV.
3. You ought to do your homework before you watch TV.
4. You might as well do your homework before you watch TV.
5. You have to do your homework before you watch TV.

Is there slight difference between 1 and 5 like showing different levels of formality or strong admonision?

Clive · Accepted Answer

1. You are to do your homework before you watch TV. Strong and a bit formal

I saw #1 in my book and thought other similar words' usage.

2. You should do your homework before you watch TV. Just sounds like advice
3. You ought to do your homework before you watch TV. Just sounds like advice
4. You might as well do your homework before you watch TV. Sounds like a concession. 'You might as well do it because there is nothing better to do'. eg the TV is broken
5. You have to do your homework before you watch TV. Like #1, but more everyday speech.

Clive

Moon7296 · Answer

Clive4. You might as well do your homework before you watch TV. Sounds like a concession. 'You might as well do it because there is nothing better to do'. eg the TV is broken

Hi,
then "might as well" is technically, no.. actually different from "should", "ought to", right? I thought it's very similar to "should", and "ought to".
And "should", and "ought to" are just almost interchangable?
Even so can you think of any specific example that they are in different context?

Nagariya · Answer

1. You are to do your homework before you watch TV.

I could use this as a command to a child that they were to have their homework completed before they are allowed to watch the TV. Maybe the parents is reading off a list of things the child needs to have done before during the day.

2. You should do your homework before you watch TV.

In this sentence, I am only giving my advice. Even though it could be used strongly and could be used as a command, it is lacking the full force of You are.

3. You ought to do your homework before you watch TV.

Again, this is giving advice, however this is without any commanding voice. It may be used to assess a child's activities and simply say what the adult thinks.

4. You might as well do your homework before you watch TV.

This is without any commanding voice and is simply saying to the child that you really don't care one way or the other, but since there seems to be time why not go ahead and do the homework.

5. You have to do your homework before you watch TV.

Now this using a very commanding voice. A parent may even yell this to a child.

be to/ ought to/ might as well/ have to

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions