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Viceidol Posted 18 years ago
Grammar

Possible meaning of "oughtn't (to) have done" and "shouldn't have done"?

0Hi, I knew that "shouldn't do" and "ought not to" doesn't completely mean the same thing from 01a05000 02a00. 02br
02br
00But how about 01b00"oughtn't (to) have done" 02b00and01b00 "shouldn't have done"02b00? Like:02br
02br
00He 01b01font00shouldn't 02font00have left02b00 for America. (It could probably mean (1)01i00 01b00He wasn't supposed to leave for America, but he did.02b02i00 or (2) 01i01b00It is possible that he hadn't left for America yet.02b00 02i00) 02br
02br
00He 01font01b01font00oughtn't02font00 (to) 00have left02b02font00 for America. (It could only mean 01b00"01i00He wasn't supposed to left for America, but he did.02i00"02b00 )02br
02br
00 Am I right? Please give me your opinion, thank you!0260hrefhttp://www.EnglishForward.com/English/PossibleMeaningShouldnt/zxkzw/post.htm
  

Top answer

0You have the right idea. 02br 02br 00Looking at Mr. 's post which you referenced, I'll stand with what I've said.

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  • 0You have the right idea.
  • 02br 02br 00Looking at Mr.
  • 's post which you referenced, I'll stand with what I've said.
  • I think the difference between s.
  • and o.
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9 Answers
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0You have the right idea. These are two different senses of "shouldn't." I'd reword your (2): It's 01u00likely02u00 that he 01u00hasn't02u00 left for America yet.02br
02br
00I may be mistaken, but I'd allow the same two interpretations for your "oughtn't to" sentence.02br
02br
00Looking at Mr. M.'s post whic
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0 .02br
00I agree, but another opinion might be helpful, since mine was the response also in the linked thread.0-
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0Here are my opinions. Two different 01i00should02i00's are possible: 02br
00the 01i00should02i00 of expectation should-01i00exp02i02br
02br
00the 01i00should02i00 of advice should-01i00adv02i02br
02br
00should-01i00adv02i
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0The forms with 01i00ought02i00 are likewise divided into ought-01i00exp02i00 and ought-01i00adv02i00.02br
00Though ought-01i00exp02i00 is theoretically possible, it is rarely used. So almost all uses of 01i00ought02i00 are uses of the 01i00ought02i0
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0Thank you for your answers! And I have to thank Jim for his detailed analysis of the usage of "should". That really helps me a lot.0-
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0 For both verbs, both the meanings mentioned above are possible. Only based on context can one decide. 0-
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Hi

does anyone can tell me how to use "have been done"
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All of the jobs you left for me to do have been done.

These hamburgers have been done for half an hour. They're well-done!
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What you said is right, for should means possibility and obligation and ought means only obligation.
Therefore he shouldn't have left for America means ?It is possible that he hasn't left for America and?He was not obliged to leave for , but he did. On the other hand, he oughtn't have left for America only mean
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