For a Russian-speaking student of English, the difference between ought to, should and must is far from always understood and not immediately understood. In Russian, all these words are translated in one capacious concept - "must." In English, however, the difference between these modal verbs is quite significant.
When should you use?
Should is a very polite form of expression of longevity in English. It is used in the sense of "should", "it would be useful / appropriate / valuable / right / reasonable." You can use this verb in the following situations:
- Giving advice to a loved one, friend or relative. In this case, the council will acquire a shade of "warmth", softness, friendliness. For example: you should take care of yourself - you should take care of yourself.
- Expressing some kind of parental instruction, instruction, an act of passing on personal experience to the next generation, even if it manifests itself in something completely trifling: you should put this hat on if you don't want to get cold - you should wear this hat if you do not want to catch a cold.
- Asking politely for permission to do something. Moreover, such a question does not imply the speaker’s desire to fulfill what he is talking about (Can I have this coffee?), But his duty and necessity (Should I have this coffee?). For example: Should we keep going to school with an old bag or just go and buy a new one? “Should we continue to go to school with an old backpack, or just go and buy a new one?”
As you can see from the examples, should is a very soft, polite verb, always suggesting a choice and only offering some kind of opportunity.
When should you use ought to?
Ought to is a modal verb describing moral duty. For example, a duty to parents, to a mentor, to the state, to this promise, to God. The difference should and ought to is that the first option is soft and loyal, and the second is strict and demanding. Here are some examples of its use:
- Every honest monk ought to live modestly, be kind and patient - every honest monk should live modestly, be kind and patient.
- If you want to become a part of this country, you ought to love and protect it - if you want to become part of this country, you must love and protect it.
- We all ought to thank our parents for supporting and taking care of us - we should all be grateful to our parents for their support and care.
For a questioner, the difference between should and ought to is fundamental: should he asks, and ought to insist. For example: We ought to help her, oughtn't we? “We have to help her, don't we?”
When should you use must?
Must is another modal verb, which, like the two previous ones, means that someone owes something to someone. Despite the similarity of values, there is a significant difference between must, should and ought to. If should only suggested necessity, and ought to expressed a duty to something lofty, moral or spiritual, the verb must informs the listener of the obligations imposed on him by the speaker himself or by someone outsiders. To understand this straightforward, but not the first words obvious rule, it is worth looking at examples of the use of the verb must:
- You must do it, because they asked you very politely and respectfully! “You must do this because they asked you very politely and respectfully!”
- She must not accept his proposal only because her father said so! - She is not obliged to accept his offer only because her father said so!
- If you want to find this museum, you must go straight ahead and then turn left next to the grocery store. - If you want to find this museum, you have to go straight and then turn left near the grocery store.
The difference should, ought to, and must is immediately noticeable: the first offers, the second obliges the moral code, and the third - the man.
Why did you need better?
This is another successful synonym for the expressions already listed. There is practically no difference between should, ought to and had better. They are not much different and can replace each other in almost any situation. For instance:
- You had better watch the way you talk to me! - You should watch the way you talk to me! “You better watch how you talk to me!”
"In vain" in English
What can be expressed through the capacious “in vain” in Russian is expressed in English using the modal verb should in combination with the perfect infinitive grammar (the have verb and the main verb in the form of past participle are the third column of irregular verbs). It looks like this:
- You should not have done this - in vain you did it.
- She should not have written him - in vain she wrote to him.
One more easily traced difference: must and ought to differ from should in that they do not have such a grammatical construction.
Commonly made mistake
Studying English, Russian speakers always try to speak politely and well-mannered. It is a completely justified desire, which is by no means worth judging. Perhaps that is why, in English, they use the verb should too often, neglecting the more appropriate verb must in some situations. Because of this, they sound insecure, and the phrases they build are inappropriate and strange. For instance:
- You should pay for it instead of you must pay fot it in a cafe, restaurant or store.
- You should go ... instead of you must go ..., explaining to someone the direction of movement.
More rarely, but still there is another extreme: giving some advice or recommendation, instead of the necessary should be used radical must:
- You must tell him! instead you should tell him.
Such "advice" may well be misunderstood and perceived as an insult. It is possible that they will answer with no less sharp No, I mustn't !.