ought to/should

Examples where "should" can be used, but not "ought to":

- After an adjective like "strange", "surprised", etc., e.g.
"It's strange that he should be late."
"I was surprised that he should say such a thing."

- If something should happen, e.g.
"If Tom should phone while I'm out, tell him I'll call him back later."

- Giving advice, e.g.
"Shall I leave now?

Hi Annvan

does it mean that should is "more" than ought to?

That we do not need ought to, because we have should?

thanks

Yes, I think should covers more situations and those mentioned by AnnVan are unique to it.

However in terms of obligations, ought still has a role to play, being, IMO, softer than should (in many situations, it means "it would be good (not mandatory) to do this or that."

Try some searches at this site on:
should ought
and you

You may want to read what Professor Lawler said elsewhere:
--------------
>"I should go." "I ought to go."
>Is there any difference ?
>(Needless to say I'm not a native English speaker.)


There isn't much difference. "Ought" is the old past participle of "to
owe", which shows the 'moral bookkeeping' involved in deontic modals.

( See

thanks Marius

Inchoateknowledge
Hi

Can you say a sentence where ought to is correct but not should, and vice versa.

Thanks.

Personally, I feel that “ought to” has the advisory tone whereas “should” has more of a directing tone. As far as what I can see, both can be used in the same context, though the listening par

I agree with what Goodman says ...

Hi Inchoateknowledge,
As Marius mentioned, the examples I gave are unique to "should" - "ought to" cannot be used.
Greetings from Holland!