Probability: should, ought to

We can use should or ought to to say that something is probable at the moment of speaking, or in the future.

Sally should be at work by now. She's normally

there at this time. (=Sally is probably at work

now.)

I should finish work early today. I haven't got

much to do. (=1 will probably finish work early

today.)

He ought to pass his driving test easily. He's a

very good driver. (= He will probably pass his

driving test easily.)

She is pretty. She ought to make a good match.

(=She will probably make a good match.)

Should have ... and ought to have ...

We use should have/ought to have + past participle when we expected something to happen and we do not know if it happened.

They should have arrived by now. (But I do not know if they have arrived.) 'I wonder if he passed his driving test this morning.' 'He ought to have passed it easily.' (But I do not know if he passed it.)

We also use this structure when we expected some­thing to happen but it did not happen.

They should have arrived by now, but they aren't there yet.

He ought to have passed his driving test easily. I was surprised that he failed.

Activities

I. Complete the sentences using should or ought to and the correct form of the verbs in the box. Use each verb only once.

pass be win not take

sell arrive receive

1. I've only got £ 15, but that ... enough. We won't need to buy very much. 2. You ... my letter first thing tomorrow morning. I posted it early today. 3. I was surprised Liverpool lost the football match. They ... easily. 4. I... my car easily. I only want £ 950 for it and it's in very good condition. 5. And­rew ... the exams last week. He worked very hard for them. 6. 'How long will it take to drive to the park?' 'Well, it ... long. It isn't very far.' 7. I'm still waiting for the 7 o'clock bus. It ... half an hour ago.

II. Use should or ought to to say that you think something will happen.

1. Do you think Ted will get the job he applied for? Well, .... He's got all the necessary qualifications.

2. Do you think Margaret will pass the examination? Well, .... She has studied very hard.

3. Do you think Jim will win his tennis match against Tom? Well, .... He's a much better player than Tom.

4. Do you think £ 10 will be enough to do all the shopping? Well, it ... . But take a bit more in case it isn't.

III. Stephen and his father are looking at the league table, and trying to predict who will be in the final. Complete their conversation with should/shouldn't or ought (not) to/ oughtn't to.

Stephen: Brightsmouth ... beat Mancastle.

Dad: I agree, they ... lose that match.

Stephen: How about the other semi-final? Liverton ... beat

Wetford, ... they?

Dad: Yes, they ..., but it won't be easy. Stephen: If Brightsmouth reach the final, they ... win the

cup. They ... have much difficulty against either

Wetford or Liverton.

IV. Use should/ought to, or must in the following.

1. Look at all the people standing in line to get into that movie. It ... be a good movie. 2. Let's go to the lecture tonight. It ... be interesting. 3. Look. Jack's car is in front of his house. He ... be at home. Let's stop and visit him. 4. A: Hello. May I speak to Jack? B: He isn't here right now. A: What time do you expect him? B: He ... be home around nine or so. 5. A: Who do you think is going to win the game tomorrow? B: Well, our team has better players, so we ... win, but you never know. Anything can happen in sports. 6. A: What time are you going to arrive? B: Well, the trip takes about four hours. I think I'll leave sometime around noon, so I... get there around four. 7. A: Susie is yawning and rubbing her eyes. B: She ...

be sleepy. Let's put her to bed early tonight. 8. Hmmm. I wonder what's causing the delay. Ellen's plane ... have been here an hour ago. 9. I thought I had a dollar in my purse, but I don't. I ... have spent it. 10. Ed has been acting strangely lately. He... be in love. 11. Forty minutes... She... have been back for her rest hour by now.

V. Rephrase the sentences using the correct form of the words in brackets.

1. I'm sure she is in bed. (must) 2. We'll probably arrive before 11 o'clock, (should) 3. Perhaps he was ill. (may) 4. It's impossible that they missed the plane, (can't) 5. Perhaps she'll phone later, (might) 6. I'll probably be at home by 6 o'clock, (should) 7. Perhaps they went home, (could) 8. It's impossible that he's telling the truth, (can't) 9. I'm sure you've heard the news, (must) 10. Perhaps I won't go out this evening, (may) 11. It's impossible that she saw us. (can't) 12. I'm sure the bus has left, (must) 13. Perhaps he didn't apply for the job. (might) 14. She'll probably be here soon, (ought to)

VI. Complete the sentences with the appropriate form of the

words in parentheses. Add not if necessary for a sentence to make sense.

1. A: I need to see Tom. Where is he?

B: In his room. Knock on his door softly. He (might + take) a nap.

2. When I walked into the room, the TV was on but the room was empty. Dad (must + watch) TV a short while before I came into the room. He (must + forget) to turn the TV off before he left the room.

3. Michael wanted to go to the opera, but he put off buying a ticket and now they're all sold. He (should + buy) his ticket weeks ago. He (should + wait) until now to try to get a ticket.

4. Bob was stopped by a police officer last night. He (must + drive) too fast when she clocked him on her radar. She gave him a speed ticket.

5. A: Why didn't Jack answer the teacher when she asked

him a question?

B: He was too busy staring out of the window. He (must + daydream). He (should + pay attention). He (should + stare) out of the windows during class yesterday.

6. Why do you ask my opinion? You have been in the busi­ness much longer, you (ought to + know) better.

7. A: Where's your bicycle?

B: I don't know. One of my friends (may + borrow) it.

I hope it wasn't stolen. Maybe Sally borrowed it. A: Sally? She (could + borrow) it. She has a broken leg.

Why should she want to borrow your bicycle?

8. Renny drove her to the train. He (should + be) back at any moment.

9. There's a fine sunset, it (ought to + be) a fine day tomorrow.

10. Tea is between half-past five and six, and it (should + be) ready now.

11. A: Kathy just bought a new car, and now she's looking

for a new apartment. B: She (must + make) a lot of money in her new job.

12. It's five o'clock. The plane (should+land) now.

13. A: The roads are treacherous this morning. In places,

they're nothing but a sheet of ice. I (should+take) the bus to work this morning instead of driving my car. I thought I'd never make it.

B: I know. It's terrible outside. Jake still hasn't arrived. He (must+walk) to work right now. He doesn't live too far away, and I know he hates to drive on icy ro­ads.

A: He (might+decide) not to come in at all. He (could+work) on his report at home this morning. I'll check with his secretary. He (may+call) her by now.

14. Do you hear that guitar music? Carla (must+play) her guitar.

15. My tweed jacket isn't in my closet. I think my roommate (might+borrow) it. He often borrows my things without asking me.

16. A: Do you think Jane has got my letter yet?

B: She (should+receive) it by now. I haven't heard of any hold-ups with the post.

17. Alex has a test tomorrow that he needs to study for. He (should+watch) TV right now.

VII. Translate from Russian into English.

1. Уже 5.30. Гости скоро должны быть здесь. 2. Думаю, вы поняли, что нужно делать. Домашнее задание не дол­жно занять у вас слишком много времени. 3. Ты думаешь Рита сдаст экзамен? — Да, она должна сдать экзамен. Она много занималась. 4. Ты думаешь, Рита сдала экза­мен? — Полагаю, что она должна была сдать его. Она много занималась. 5. Мой вопрос, возможно, озадачит вас, но все же я хочу задать его. 6. Он, должно быть, ничего им не сказал об этом. 7. Тебе следовало бы еще раз прочитать свое сочинение. Там, наверное, есть ошиб­ки. 8. Зря ты так разговаривал с ним. Он мог обидеться. 9. Вечер, вероятно, будет интересным. Студенты так дол­го готовили его. 10. Это вовсе не смешно. Нужно быть серьезнее. 11. Вероятно, он получил мое письмо. Я ото­слал его неделю назад. 12. Никто не отвечает. Может быть, он еще не вернулся с работы. 13. Я бы давно мог это сде­лать, если бы знал, что это так срочно. 14. Это рассказ О. Генри, он должен быть интересным. 15. Там, должно быть, никого нет. 16. Вряд ли они вернулись из зоопарка. Они там впервые и могут долго пробыть. 17. Возможно, они были на вечере, но я их не видел. 18. Где мой ключ? — Ты, наверное, его потерял. — Не может быть, чтобы я его поте­рял. Я, возможно, оставил его в кармане пальто. 19. Они боялись, что их, возможно, спросят, почему Том не при­шел с ними. 20. Не может быть, чтобы он обманул их, он честный человек. 21. Вам не нужно было беспокоить профессора. Я мог бы дать вам всю необходимую инфор­мацию. 22. Он ее брат. Он должен знать ее адрес. 23. Сей­час 10 часов утра. Они, вероятно, уже прибыли в Лон­дон. 24. Этот экзамен я должен буду сдавать через неделю. 25. Хотя это очень неприятная миссия, я чувствую, что

я должен сказать тебе правду. 26. Ей не следовало гово­рить такие вещи в присутствии ребенка. 27. Я недавно видела эту книгу. Она должна быть здесь, на верхней пол­ке. 28. Ты полагаешь, что поздно вернешься домой? — Не думаю. Я должна быть дома в обычное время.

Reproach: might

you might can express a very casual request: You might post these for me.

But it can only be used in friendly relaxed situations, otherwise it would sound rude.

With a certain intonation and a strong stress on the important word might can express a reproachful request: You might 'help me with stress on help might imply 'Why aren't you helping me?/You should be helping me.'

might can also be used with other persons to express this sort of irritation: He might 'pay us! with stress on pay could mean 'We are annoyed that he doesn't pay/hasn't paid us.'

might + perfect infinitive can express irritation at or reproach for the non-performance of an action in the past: You might have 'told us with stress on told could mean 'You should have told us.' In this sense might is interchangeable with could.

You might at least have met me at the station. = You could at least have met me at the station.