Complete Guide to the Modal Verb “Ought To Have” with Examples in English and Hindi

Modal verbs help express various shades of meaning in English, and “ought to have” serves as a crucial construction for discussing unfulfilled obligations, moral expectations, and past recommendations. This comprehensive guide explores all aspects of “ought to have” – its meanings, uses, sentence structures, and rules – with detailed explanations and practical examples in both English and Hindi.

Meaning of “Ought To Have” (Ought To Have का अर्थ)

“Ought to have” carries several important functions:

• Unfulfilled Obligation (अपूर्ण दायित्व) – पूरा न किए गए कर्तव्य या जिम्मेदारी
• Moral Expectation (नैतिक अपेक्षा) – नैतिक रूप से अपेक्षित कार्य जो नहीं हुआ
• Past Recommendation (बीती सिफारिश) – बीते समय के लिए उचित सलाह
• Missed Opportunity (खोया हुआ अवसर) – गँवाए हुए बेहतर विकल्प
• Regret (पछतावा) – बीती बातों पर अफसोस जताना

Uses of “Ought To Have” with Detailed Explanation

1. Expressing Unfulfilled Obligations (अपूर्ण दायित्व)

Used when someone failed to do what was expected or required.

Structure: Subject + ought to have + V3 (past participle)
Examples:

• You ought to have informed me earlier. (तुम्हें मुझे पहले सूचित करना चाहिए था।)
• They ought to have completed the work by now. (उन्हें अब तक काम पूरा कर लेना चाहिए था।)

2. Showing Moral Expectations (नैतिक अपेक्षाएँ)

Used to indicate what was morally expected but didn’t happen.

Structure: Subject + ought to have + V3
Examples:

• He ought to have helped his parents. (उसे अपने माता-पिता की मदद करनी चाहिए थी।)
• We ought to have stood up for justice. (हमें न्याय के लिए खड़ा होना चाहिए था।)

3. Giving Past Recommendations (बीती सिफारिशें)

Used to suggest what would have been the proper course of action.

Structure: Subject + ought to have + V3
Examples:

• You ought to have consulted a doctor. (आपको डॉक्टर से सलाह लेनी चाहिए थी।)
• They ought to have invested wisely. (उन्हें समझदारी से निवेश करना चाहिए था।)

4. Expressing Regret (पछतावा)

Used to show regret about past actions or inactions.

Structure: Subject + ought to have + V3
Examples:

• I ought to have listened to your advice. (मुझे आपकी सलाह माननी चाहिए थी।)
• She ought to have accepted the offer. (उसे प्रस्ताव स्वीकार करना चाहिए था।)

Negative Form – Ought not to have

To indicate that something shouldn’t have been done.

Structure: Subject + ought not to have + V3
Examples:

• You ought not to have wasted your time. (तुम्हें अपना समय बर्बाद नहीं करना चाहिए था।)
• They ought not to have ignored the warnings. (उन्हें चेतावनियों को नजरअंदाज नहीं करना चाहिए था।)

Important Rules About “Ought To Have”

1. Always followed by past participle (V3)
2. Expresses unfulfilled duty or moral expectation
3. More formal than “should have”
4. Carries stronger moral weight than “should have”
5. Often used for criticism or regret

15 Examples of “Ought To Have” in English and Hindi

S.No.	English Sentence	Hindi Translation
1.	You ought to have apologized.	तुम्हें माफी माँगनी चाहिए थी।
2.	She ought to have been more careful.	उसे और सावधान रहना चाहिए था।
3.	We ought to have saved more money.	हमें और पैसे बचाने चाहिए थे।
4.	They ought to have arrived by now.	उन्हें अब तक आ जाना चाहिए था।
5.	He ought to have respected his elders.	उसे अपने बड़ों का आदर करना चाहिए था।
6.	You ought not to have spoken rudely.	तुम्हें रूखे तरीके से बात नहीं करनी चाहिए थी।
7.	The government ought to have acted sooner.	सरकार को जल्दी कार्रवाई करनी चाहिए थी।
8.	I ought to have studied harder.	मुझे और मेहनत से पढ़ना चाहिए था।
9.	They ought to have considered the consequences.	उन्हें परिणामों पर विचार करना चाहिए था।
10.	You ought to have told me the truth.	तुम्हें मुझे सच बताना चाहिए था।
11.	She ought not to have wasted her talent.	उसे अपनी प्रतिभा बर्बाद नहीं करनी चाहिए थी।
12.	We ought to have helped our neighbors.	हमें अपने पड़ोसियों की मदद करनी चाहिए थी।
13.	He ought to have taken the opportunity.	उसे अवसर का लाभ उठाना चाहिए था।
14.	You ought to have checked the facts.	तुम्हें तथ्यों की जाँच करनी चाहिए थी।
15.	They ought not to have broken the rules.	उन्हें नियम तोड़ने नहीं चाहिए थे।

Conclusion

“Ought to have” is a valuable construction for discussing unfulfilled duties, moral expectations, and past recommendations. Its formal tone and strong moral connotation make it particularly useful for expressing regret, criticism, or reflection on what should have been done differently. While similar to “should have,” “ought to have” carries greater moral weight and is more formal in usage.

“Ought to have” का सही प्रयोग आपकी अंग्रेज़ी को अधिक परिष्कृत और नैतिक भार के साथ अभिव्यक्त करने में मदद करता है!

Regular practice of these examples will help you use “ought to have” naturally in appropriate contexts! 

Have any questions about using “ought to have”? Feel free to ask in the comments!