Can you use ought without TO?

Ought is usually followed by 'to' and an infinitive: You ought to tell the truth. Sometimes it is used without 'to' or a following infinitive in a formal way: I don't practise as often as I ought.
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Is ought not to?

The forms should not or shouldn't (and ought not to or oughtn't to, which are rare in North American English and formal in British English) are used to say that something is a bad idea or the wrong thing to do: You shouldn't drive so fast.
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Where is ought not used?

Instead of "ought not to," we say "ought not." "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not." Examples: You ought not smoke so much.
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What is the difference between to and ought to?

When we should do something, but we do not have to do if, we ought to do it. It is not as strong as must. Ought to is not usually used in questions or negative sentences. Use it to advise or make recommendations.
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When to use must have to and ought to?

Should refers to a person's duties and responsibilities. It also signifies the best thing to do in a case. Ought to is mainly used when we talk of a moral obligation or duty. Must is used to express the 'need of the hour' or necessity, which has to be done.
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Should vs Ought to, English modal verbs



Is ought to formal or informal?

Ought to has the same meaning as the modal should, and it is used in the same ways, but ought to is less common and more formal than should. Modal verbs are verbs that are not conjugated. They are used to signal things like obligations, expectations, advice, and suggestions.
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What is the past tense of ought to?

Note: ought to does not have a past form. It is only used with reference to the present and the future. Ought to have + past participle is used to express (past) regret: I ought to have kissed him when I had the chance.
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What ought I to do meaning?

1. phrase. You use ought to to mean that it is morally right to do a particular thing or that it is morally right for a particular situation to exist, especially when giving or asking for advice or opinions.
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What is another word for ought?

In this page you can discover 14 synonyms, antonyms, idiomatic expressions, and related words for ought-to, like: should, must, have-to, is responsible for, is necessary, is in need of, requires, is reasonable, is fitting, is becoming and is expedient.
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What part of speech is ought to?

Ought to is a semi-modal verb because it is in some ways like a modal verb and in some ways like a main verb. For example, unlike modal verbs, it is followed by to, but like modal verbs, it does not change form for person: …
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Do people still use ought to?

While the usage of ought to has been declining steadily in the last 300 years, it is still incredibly common. (The linked Ngram shows that it is roughly 1/3 as frequent as the word table today, and table is not at all an obscure word.) The question is when should you use it, and when to use should or must.
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Do we still use ought?

Yes, ought to still exists and is used. It can be heard and read in daily news too (though not often). I'm active on few social sites and read many Internet articles, I ought to say it still exists. Just a note: Ought is a modal verb and doesn't behave like ordinary verbs.
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Is ought the same as should?

The word ought to is used to express something probable or opinions. The word should is used to show what one thinks is best for the concerned subject. It is used as a Verb. It is used as a Verb.
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Had better vs ought to?

In modern American English, ought to is seldom used with the past tense or in the question form. Let's move on to had better. Had better is stronger than should and ought to. Had better carries an indirect threat.
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Is ought an obligation?

must, have to, should and ought to , need to. There are two types of modal verbs of obligation ; those that primarily express a firm obligation or necessity - must and have to. those that express a recommendation or moral obligation - should and ought to , and need to.
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Shall should ought to?

Shall, Should, Ought to. These modal verbs essentially (in essence, basically) mean the same thing, but there are differences, even if we don't always employ (use) them: Shall: willingness, intention, suggestion, and insistence. Should: obligation, necessity, expectation, and advisability.
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Should ought to examples?

Should, ought and must
  • You should tell the truth. OR You ought to tell the truth.
  • He should be punctual. OR He ought to be punctual.
  • He should stop smoking. OR He ought to stop smoking.
  • She should find a better job. OR She ought to find a better job.
  • He should consult a doctor. OR He ought to consult a doctor.
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What is the difference between ought and aught?

“Ought” is also a variant spelling of “aught,” mostly in British English, but most of the time, it means “should.” You can tell when it's being used in the sense of an obligation, because it's usually accompanied by the infinitive form of another verb: “You ought to know more about football.” As a negative, though, ...
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What does ought mean in Old English?

ought (v.) Old English ahte "owned, possessed," past tense of agan "to own, possess; owe" (see owe).
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Is ought a preposition?

Ought to is a semi-modal verb because it can function as a modal verb and can also act as a main verb.
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