Understanding “Ought Not To” – A Guide to Modal Verbs in English

Modal verbs are essential in English grammar as they express necessity, advice, obligation, or moral duty. One such important but slightly formal modal verb structure is “ought not to,” which is used to express moral obligation, strong advice, or something that is not the right thing to do. In Hindi, it translates to “नहीं करना चाहिए” (nahin karna chahiye).

Meaning and Usage of “Ought Not To”

“Ought not to” is the negative form of “ought to,” which means “should not” but with a stronger sense of moral duty or correctness. It is used to indicate that something is wrong, improper, or against what is considered right.

Structure:

Subject + ought not to + base form of verb (V1) + object

Example:

• You ought not to lie to your parents.
  (तुम्हें अपने माता-पिता से झूठ नहीं बोलना चाहिए।)

When to Use “Ought Not To”?

1. Moral Duty (Negative) – When something is ethically or morally wrong.
   • People ought not to steal. (लोगों को चोरी नहीं करनी चाहिए।)
2. Strong Advice (Negative) – When strongly advising against an action.
   • You ought not to ignore your health. (तुम्हें अपने स्वास्थ्य को नज़रअंदाज़ नहीं करना चाहिए।)
3. Warning or Prohibition (Formal Context) – When something is improper or against rules.
   • Students ought not to use unfair means in exams. (छात्रों को परीक्षा में अनुचित साधन नहीं अपनाने चाहिए।)

Difference Between “Ought Not To” and “Shouldn’t”

“Ought Not To” (Strong Moral Duty)	“Shouldn’t” (General Advice)
More formal and emphasizes moral correctness.	Less formal, used for general suggestions.
He ought not to break promises. (उसे वादे नहीं तोड़ने चाहिए।)	He shouldn’t be late. (उसे देर नहीं करनी चाहिए।)

15 Examples of “Ought Not To” (English & Hindi)

S.No.	English Sentence	Hindi Translation
1.	You ought not to waste food.	तुम्हें खाना बर्बाद नहीं करना चाहिए।
2.	He ought not to disrespect elders.	उसे बड़ों का अनादर नहीं करना चाहिए।
3.	She ought not to skip her duties.	उसे अपने कर्तव्यों से मुंह नहीं मोड़ना चाहिए।
4.	They ought not to spread rumors.	उन्हें अफवाहें नहीं फैलानी चाहिए।
5.	We ought not to harm animals.	हमें जानवरों को नुकसान नहीं पहुँचाना चाहिए।
6.	You ought not to break traffic rules.	तुम्हें यातायात नियम नहीं तोड़ने चाहिए।
7.	Children ought not to watch violent movies.	बच्चों को हिंसक फिल्में नहीं देखनी चाहिए।
8.	Employees ought not to misuse office resources.	कर्मचारियों को कार्यालय संसाधनों का दुरुपयोग नहीं करना चाहिए।
9.	You ought not to betray trust.	तुम्हें विश्वास के साथ विश्वासघात नहीं करना चाहिए।
10.	Students ought not to plagiarize.	छात्रों को साहित्यिक चोरी नहीं करनी चाहिए।
11.	She ought not to neglect her studies.	उसे अपनी पढ़ाई को नज़रअंदाज़ नहीं करना चाहिए।
12.	You ought not to judge others.	तुम्हें दूसरों को नहीं आंकना चाहिए।
13.	They ought not to waste natural resources.	उन्हें प्राकृतिक संसाधन बर्बाद नहीं करने चाहिए।
14.	He ought not to speak rudely.	उसे असभ्यता से बात नहीं करनी चाहिए।
15.	People ought not to discriminate.	लोगों को भेदभाव नहीं करना चाहिए।

Conclusion

“Ought not to” is a formal yet powerful modal verb structure used to express moral obligation, strong advice, or prohibition. It is more emphatic than “shouldn’t” and carries a sense of ethical correctness. By mastering its usage, you can effectively communicate strong recommendations or warnings in both English and Hindi.

Remember: “Ought not to” is for when something is not just wrong, but morally unacceptable!