Should (debería tendría) y ought to (debería)

El verbo should se utiliza, por lo general, para dar consejos. Lo podríamos parafrasear como “creo que es una buena / mala idea…”:

You should talk to her.

You shouldn’t waste your money on so many presents.

Existe también otro verbo modal, ought to, que tiene el mismo significado, con una conotación de deber moral:

You ought to visit your grandmother more often.

You oughtn’t drive so fast.

Should tiene otros valores:

1. Expresar obligación en contextos formales:

All visitors to the building should carry a badge.

2. Expresar una condición posible pero improbable:

If anyone should phone / Should anyone phone, I’ll be in my office.

3. En oraciones subordinadas, después de verbos como suggest, demand, require, recommed, decide, warn etc.:

The doctor suggested  / recommended that she should stop working for a while.

En este caso, el modal es opcional y la frase se puede construir solamente con el verbo en la forma de infinitivo sin to:

The doctor suggested / recommended that she stop working for a while.

Lo que NO es gramatical es la siguiente construcción con los verbos suggest y recommend:

*The doctor suggested / recommended her to stop working for a while.

4. En oraciones subordinadas, después de adjetivos como important, necessary, surprising, normal, interesting etc.:

It’s important that everybody (should) stay in touch with the guide during the journey across the desert.

5. En oraciones subordinadas, para expresar el propósito:

She used a microphone so that everybody should hear what she had to tell them.

FORMS:

POSITIVE

should + simple form of a verb (not to)

ought + to + simple form of a verb

NEGATIVE:

should + not = shouldn't (Ought to is usually not used in the negative.)

QUESTION:

should + subject + main verb (Ought to is usually not used in questions.)

EXERCISES:

1. A: I think that the grade my teacher gave me on my test is wrong.B: Really? You__________________to her after class today (talk)

2. I need help, doctor. My baby doesn't sleep well. What ________________ ? (do)

3. A: I'm so hot.B: You _________________ your coat! (take off)

4. My mother isn't feeling well, so I told her that she _______________ to the doctor. (go)

5. I'm going to visit your country. Where _______________ if I want to go shopping? (go)

6. Dave loves chocolate, but he _________________ too much or he will get fat. (eat)