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Should、Ought To 和 Had Better

Should、ought to 和 had better 是英语中表达建议、推荐、道德义务和期望的基本情态动词。这些复杂的情态动词使您能够传达您认为正确的行动方针、道德上适当的事情以及某些选择可能带来的后果。它们对于提供指导和外交地表达判断至关重要。

每个情态动词具有不同的强度和正式程度。Should 是最常见和最通用的,适用于一般性建议和推荐。Ought to 更正式,通常暗示道德义务或强烈期望。Had better 暗示紧迫性和潜在的负面后果,使其比 should 更强,但比 ought to 更不正式。

这些情态动词对于需要表达关于什么是适当、可取或预期的意见的专业交流、学术写作和社交互动至关重要。它们帮助您在不过于直接的情况下提供建议,建设性地表达批评,并在保持适当社会关系的同时讨论在各种情况下什么是最好的。

掌握 should、ought to 和 had better 将使您能够有效参与有关选择的讨论,提供有用的建议,外交地表达期望,并在英语环境中驾驭推荐和指导的复杂社会动态。这些情态动词对于任何需要提供建议、评估或表达关于适当行动的知情意见的人来说都是必不可少的。

构成

Should

主语 + should + 动词原形

建议、推荐、期望和轻微义务

肯定式:

  • You should see a doctor.
  • We should leave early.
  • She should study harder.
  • They should be here soon.

否定式:

  • You shouldn't smoke.
  • We shouldn't be late.
  • She shouldn't worry.
  • They shouldn't drive tonight.

疑问式:

  • Should I call her?
  • Should we book tickets?
  • Should they wait for us?
  • What should I do?

Ought To

主语 + ought to + 动词原形

道德义务、强烈期望、正式建议

肯定式:

  • You ought to apologise.
  • We ought to help them.
  • She ought to know better.
  • They ought to be grateful.

否定式:

  • You ought not to lie.
  • We oughtn't to judge.
  • She ought not to worry.
  • They oughtn't to complain.

疑问式:

  • Ought I to tell him?
  • Ought we to wait?
  • Oughtn't she to know?
  • What ought I to do?

注意:使用 ought to 的疑问句相当正式且不太常见

Had Better

主语 + had better + 动词原形

带有隐含后果的强烈建议,紧迫性

肯定式:

  • You had better hurry.
  • We 'd better leave now.
  • She had better call back.
  • They 'd better be careful.

否定式:

  • You had better not be late.
  • We 'd better not wait.
  • She had better not forget.
  • They 'd better not complain.

疑问式:

  • Had I better call?
  • Hadn't we better leave?
  • Had she better not go?
  • What had I better do?

注意:使用 had better 的疑问句不如陈述句常见

完成式(过去的批评/遗憾)

主语 + should/ought to + have + 过去分词

对过去行为的批评,遗憾,应该做的事情

Should have:

  • You should have called me.
  • We should have left earlier.
  • She shouldn't have said that.
  • They should have been more careful.

Ought to have:

  • You ought to have known better.
  • We ought to have helped them.
  • She oughtn't to have worried.
  • They ought to have been grateful.

要避免的常见错误

❌ "You should to call her."

✅ "You should call her."

不要在 'should' 后使用 'to' - 它采用原形

❌ "She shoulds be here soon."

✅ "She should be here soon."

情态动词不改变形式 - 第三人称单数没有 's'

❌ "I better had leave now."

✅ "I had better leave now."

正确的顺序是 'had better',不是 'better had'

❌ "You ought call your mother."

✅ "You ought to call your mother."

'Ought' 必须在原形动词前加 'to'

❌ "I should have went earlier."

✅ "I should have gone earlier."

在 'have' 后使用过去分词(gone),不是过去式(went)

强度和正式程度

从最强到最弱的建议:

Must(义务)You must wear a seatbelt(必须)
Had better(后果)You'd better hurry(否则你会迟到)
Ought to(道德义务)You ought to help them(这是对的)
Should(建议)You should see a doctor(推荐)
Could(建议)You could try calling(选择)

为语境选择正确的情态动词

休闲场合:

  • Should: Should: "You should try this restaurant"
  • Had better: Had better: "We'd better go home"
  • Ought to: Ought to: 在休闲对话中不太常见

专业语境:

  • Should: Should: "We should review the proposal"
  • Ought to: Ought to: "Companies ought to be responsible"
  • Had better: Had better: 谨慎使用(可能听起来有威胁)

学术写作:

  • Should: Should: "Further research should examine..."
  • Ought to: Ought to: "Governments ought to consider..."
  • Had better: Had better: 在学术写作中很少使用

时间参考和完成式

现在/将来建议:

"You should call her today. / You ought to visit them soon."

过去的批评/遗憾:

"You should have called her yesterday. / You ought to have visited them."

对过去的期望:

"She should have arrived by now. (but we don't know if she has)"

Had better(仅现在/将来):

"You had better leave now. (No past form: had better have left ❌)"

接受和拒绝建议

接受建议:

  • "Yes, you're right. I should..."
  • "That's good advice. I'll..."
  • "I think I ought to..."
  • "You're absolutely right."

礼貌拒绝:

  • "I know I should, but..."
  • "That's a good idea, however..."
  • "I appreciate the advice, but..."
  • "I'll think about it."

快速参考指南

关键要点:

  • Should: 一般建议、推荐、期望、轻微义务
  • Ought to: 道德义务、正式建议、比 should 更强
  • Had better: 带后果的强烈建议、隐含紧迫性
  • 完成式: Should/ought to + have = 过去的批评和遗憾
  • 强度顺序: Must > Had better > Ought to > Should > Could
  • 正式性: Ought to 最正式,had better 最不正式
  • 否定: shouldn't, ought not to/oughtn't to, had better not
  • 疑问: Should I...?(常见), Ought I to...?(正式), Had I better...?(罕见)
  • 语境很重要: 根据关系和情况选择

Practice Exercises


Quizzes for this lesson will be available soon. We are currently preparing the question set and will publish it as soon as possible.


Downloadable PDF


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