The Complete Guide to “Ought to Be” Modal Verbs: Usage, Rules & Examples

Introduction to “Ought to Be”

The semi-modal verb phrase “ought to be” is a formal expression used to indicate moral obligation, strong recommendations, or logical expectations. More formal than “should be,” it carries a sense of duty or correctness. This comprehensive guide covers its meaning, grammatical rules, usage with Hindi translations, and practice exercises.

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Table of Contents

1. Core Meanings & Uses of “Ought to Be”
2. Grammatical Structures & Sentence Patterns
3. 10 Practical Examples with Hindi Translations
4. “Ought to Be” vs “Should Be” – Key Differences
5. Common Errors & How to Avoid Them
6. Practice Exercises (Test Yourself)
7. Conclusion & Key Takeaways

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1. Core Meanings & Uses of “Ought to Be”

“Ought to be” expresses:

• Moral Duty (नैतिक कर्तव्य)
  Example: We ought to be honest. (हमें ईमानदार होना चाहिए।)
• Strong Recommendation (मजबूत सिफारिश)
  Example: This law ought to be changed. (इस कानून को बदलना चाहिए।)
• Logical Expectation (तार्किक अपेक्षा)
  Example: The results ought to be ready by now. (परिणाम अब तक तैयार होने चाहिए थे।)

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2. Grammatical Structures

Sentence Formation Rules

Sentence Type	Structure	Example	Hindi Translation
Affirmative	Subject + ought to be + adjective/noun/past participle	The work ought to be finished.	काम पूरा हो जाना चाहिए।
Negative	Subject + ought not to be + adjective/noun	You ought not to be late.	आपको देर नहीं करनी चाहिए।
Interrogative	Ought + subject + to be + adjective/noun?	Ought we to be worried?	क्या हमें चिंतित होना चाहिए?

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3. 10 Practical Examples with Hindi Translations

S.No	English Example	Hindi Translation
1	Students ought to be punctual.	छात्रों को समय का पाबंद होना चाहिए।
2	The medicine ought to be taken regularly.	दवा नियमित रूप से लेनी चाहिए।
3	This road ought to be repaired.	इस सड़क की मरम्मत होनी चाहिए।
4	You ought to be more careful.	आपको और सावधान रहना चाहिए।
5	The meeting ought to be over by now.	बैठक अब तक खत्म हो जानी चाहिए थी।
6	Ought the documents to be submitted today?	क्या दस्तावेज आज जमा करने चाहिए?
7	The temperature ought to be perfect now.	तापमान अब ठीक होना चाहिए।
8	Children ought to be supervised.	बच्चों की निगरानी की जानी चाहिए।
9	The keys ought to be in the drawer.	चाबियाँ दराज में होनी चाहिए।
10	Guests ought to be welcomed properly.	मेहमानों का उचित स्वागत होना चाहिए।

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4. Common Mistakes to Avoid

 Incorrect: She ought to be comes early.
 Correct: She ought to be coming early.

 Incorrect: Ought to be we ready?
 Correct: Ought we to be ready?

 Incorrect: The food ought to be serve hot.
 Correct: The food ought to be served hot.

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5. Practice Exercises

Section 1: Fill in the Blanks

1. Employees __________ dressed formally.
2. The payment __________ processed within 24 hours.
3. __________ the windows be closed?
4. You __________ more careful with confidential data.
5. The train __________ on platform 2.

Section 2: Hindi to English Translation

6. मरीज़ों को समय पर दवा दी जानी चाहिए।
7. क्या मुझे इसकी चिंता करनी चाहिए?
8. फाइलें आज जमा की जानी चाहिए।
9. बच्चों को जल्दी सोना चाहिए।
10. यह जानकारी गोपनीय रखनी चाहिए।

Section 3: Error Correction

11. The package ought to be deliver by Monday.
12. Ought to be we preparing for the exam?
13. He ought to be more carefully.
14. All applications ought to be submit online.
15. The event ought to be starts at 7 PM.

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6. Conclusion

“Ought to be” adds moral weight and formality to your expressions of obligation and expectation. Remember:

• Use for strong recommendations/duties
• Maintain proper verb forms after “ought to be”
• Prefer “should be” for casual suggestions

For doubts about any examples, ask in comments!