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

Modal verbs add depth and nuance to English communication, and “ought to” serves as a crucial expression for moral obligation, advisability, and probability. This comprehensive guide explores all aspects of “ought to” – its meanings, uses, sentence structures, and rules – with detailed explanations and practical examples in both English and Hindi.

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

“Ought to” carries several important functions:

• Moral Obligation (नैतिक बाध्यता) – कर्तव्य या नैतिक जिम्मेदारी व्यक्त करना
• Advisability (सलाह) – उचित या समझदारी भरे कार्य की सिफारिश करना
• Probability (संभावना) – किसी घटना के होने की उचित सम्भावना
• Desirable Action (वांछनीय कार्य) – आदर्श या बेहतर विकल्प सुझाना

Uses of “Ought To” with Detailed Explanation

1. Expressing Moral Obligation (नैतिक दायित्व)

Used when something is the right thing to do morally.

Structure: Subject + ought to + V1 (base verb)
Examples:

• We ought to help the poor. (हमें गरीबों की मदद करनी चाहिए।)
• You ought to respect your elders. (आपको बड़ों का सम्मान करना चाहिए।)

2. Giving Advice (सलाह देना)

Used to suggest what is proper or beneficial.

Structure: Subject + ought to + V1
Examples:

• You ought to see a doctor. (आपको डॉक्टर को दिखाना चाहिए।)
• He ought to apologize for his mistake. (उसे अपनी गलती के लिए माफी माँगनी चाहिए।)

3. Showing Probability (संभावना व्यक्त करना)

Used when something is likely to happen.

Structure: Subject + ought to + V1
Examples:

• The package ought to arrive tomorrow. (पार्सल कल आ जाना चाहिए।)
• She ought to know the answer. (उसे जवाब मालूम होना चाहिए।)

4. Expressing Desirable Actions (वांछनीय कार्य)

Used to indicate ideal or preferable actions.

Structure: Subject + ought to + V1
Examples:

• We ought to exercise regularly. (हमें नियमित व्यायाम करना चाहिए।)
• You ought to save some money. (आपको कुछ पैसे बचाने चाहिए।)

Negative Form – Ought not to/Oughtn’t to

To express what should not be done.

Structure: Subject + ought not to/oughtn’t to + V1
Examples:

• You ought not to waste time. (आपको समय बर्बाद नहीं करना चाहिए।)
• They oughtn’t to ignore the warnings. (उन्हें चेतावनियों को नजरअंदाज नहीं करना चाहिए।)

Question Form

Used to ask about advisable actions.

Structure: Ought + subject + to + V1?
Examples:

• Ought I to inform the police? (क्या मुझे पुलिस को सूचित करना चाहिए?)
• What ought we to do in this situation? (इस स्थिति में हमें क्या करना चाहिए?)

Important Rules About “Ought To”

1. Always followed by “to” + base verb (V1)
2. Expresses weaker obligation than “must” but stronger than “should”
3. More formal than “should” in modern usage
4. In speech, often contracted to “oughta” (informal)
5. No past form – use “ought to have” for past reference

15 Examples of “Ought To” in English and Hindi

S.No.	English Sentence	Hindi Translation
1.	You ought to tell the truth.	आपको सच बोलना चाहिए।
2.	We ought to protect the environment.	हमें पर्यावरण की रक्षा करनी चाहिए।
3.	She ought to be more careful.	उसे और सावधान रहना चाहिए।
4.	They ought to arrive by 6 PM.	उन्हें शाम 6 बजे तक आ जाना चाहिए।
5.	You ought not to smoke so much.	आपको इतना धूम्रपान नहीं करना चाहिए।
6.	We ought to help our neighbors.	हमें अपने पड़ोसियों की मदद करनी चाहिए।
7.	He ought to know better at his age.	उसे अपनी उम्र में बेहतर समझ होनी चाहिए।
8.	The government ought to reduce taxes.	सरकार को कर कम करने चाहिए।
9.	You ought to visit your parents more often.	आपको अपने माता-पिता से अधिक बार मिलना चाहिए।
10.	They ought to have informed us earlier.	उन्हें हमें पहले सूचित करना चाहिए था।
11.	Students ought to respect their teachers.	छात्रों को अपने शिक्षकों का सम्मान करना चाहिए।
12.	This medicine ought to relieve your pain.	यह दवा आपके दर्द को कम कर देगी।
13.	We ought not to judge others hastily.	हमें दूसरों के बारे में जल्दबाजी में राय नहीं बनानी चाहिए।
14.	The weather ought to improve tomorrow.	कल मौसम बेहतर हो जाना चाहिए।
15.	You ought to consider all options before deciding.	निर्णय लेने से पहले आपको सभी विकल्पों पर विचार करना चाहिए।

Conclusion

“Ought to” serves as a valuable modal verb for expressing moral obligations, giving advice, and indicating probable outcomes. While similar to “should,” it carries a stronger sense of moral duty and is more formal in tone. Its unique structure with “to” makes it grammatically distinct from other modals. Though somewhat less common in casual American English, it remains important in formal writing and British English.

“Ought to” 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” naturally in appropriate contexts! 

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