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Well the negative is "ought not" or "oughtn't". I'm not sure about the past forms. I think it is possible to say "You ought not to have done that" but my guess is people tend to use "should" for expressing past ideas.
- Well the negative is "ought not" or "oughtn't".
- I'm not sure about the past forms.
- I think it is possible to say "You ought not to have done that" but my guess is people tend to use "should" for expressing past ideas.
- ").
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3 Answers
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Well the negative is "ought not" or "oughtn't".
I'm not sure about the past forms. I think it is possible to say "You ought not to have done that" but my guess is people tend to use "should" for expressing past ideas. ("You shouldn't have done that!").
I'm not sure about the past forms. I think it is possible to say "You ought not to have done that" but my guess is people tend to use "should" for expressing past ideas. ("You shouldn't have done that!").
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Being a modal, ought doesn't have a true past. The effect of a past is accomplished by adding have.
He ought to send her a birthday card.
He oughtn't to send her a birthday card.
He ought to have sent her a birthday card.
He oughtn't to have sent her a birthday card.
You can also drop "to" in the negative. Some grammar books give this ve
He ought to send her a birthday card.
He oughtn't to send her a birthday card.
He ought to have sent her a birthday card.
He oughtn't to have sent her a birthday card.
You can also drop "to" in the negative. Some grammar books give this ve
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