ought to

modal verb

/ˈɔːt tə/, before vowels and finally /ˈɔːt tu/

Verb Forms

ought not to
(especially British English)oughtn't to	/ˈɔːtnt tə/, before vowels and finally /ˈɔːtnt tu/ /ˈɔːtnt tə/, before vowels and finally /ˈɔːtnt tu/

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used to say what is the right thing to do
- They ought to apologize.
- They ought to have apologized (= but they didn't).
- Such things ought not to be allowed.
- He oughtn't to have been driving so fast.
- (formal) ‘Ought I to write to say thank you?’ ‘Yes, I think you ought (to).’
Questions beginning with ought are rare; it is more usual to begin with Do you think: Do you think I ought to write and say thank you?
Grammar Point should / ought / had better
should / ought / had better
- Should and ought to are both used to say that something is the best thing or the right thing to do, but should is much more common:
  You should take the baby to the doctor’s.
  I ought to give up smoking.
  In questions, should is usually used instead of ought to:
  Should we call the doctor?
- Had better can also be used to say what is the best thing to do in a situation that is happening now:
  We’d better hurry or we’ll miss the train.
- You form the past by using should have or ought to have:
  She should have asked for some help.
  You ought to have been more careful.
- The forms should not or shouldn’t (and ought not to or oughtn’t to, which are rare in North American English and formal in British English) are used to say that something is a bad idea or the wrong thing to do:
  You shouldn’t drive so fast.
- The forms should not have or shouldn’t have and, much less frequently, ought not to have or oughtn’t to have are used to talk about the past:
  I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have lost my temper.
used to say what you expect or would like to happen
- Children ought to be able to read by the age of 7.
- Nurses ought to earn more.
used to say what you advise or recommend
- We ought to be leaving now.
- This is delicious. You ought to try some.
- You ought to have come to the meeting. It was interesting.
Topics Suggestions and adviceb1
used to say what has probably happened or is probably true
- If he started out at nine, he ought to be here by now.
- That ought to be enough food for the four of us.
- Oughtn't the water to have boiled by now?
Topics Doubt, guessing and certaintyb2

Grammar Point modal verbsmodal verbs

The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will and would. Dare, need, have to and used to also share some of the features of modal verbs.
Modal verbs have only one form. They have no -ing or -ed forms and do not add -s to the 3rd person singular form:
- He can speak three languages.
- She will try and visit tomorrow.
Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions are ought to, have to and used to:
- You must find a job.
- You ought to stop smoking.
- I used to smoke but I gave up two years ago.
Questions are formed without do/does in the present, or did in the past:
- Can I invite Mary?
- Should I have invited Mary?
Negative sentences are formed with not or the short form -n’t and do not use do/does or did.

You will find more help with how to use modal verbs at the dictionary entries for each verb.