How to Use Should, Ought to, Supposed to and Had Better - English Modal Verbs Lesson

英语语法 - 情态动词 should、supposed 到 had better

Hi, I’m Martin.

嗨，我是Martin。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn how to use the modal and semi-modal verbs 'should', 'ought

在本节课里，您可以学到怎样使用 情态动词和半情态动词“should”、

to', 'had better' and 'supposed to'.

“ought to”、“had better”和“supposed to”。

We use these verbs to give advice, express opinions, to give warnings or to criticise

我们用这些动词来提出建议、表达 观点、发出警告或对某人

someone.

提出批评。

These verbs are similar in meaning, but not exactly the same.

这些动词有类似的意思， 但是不完全一样。

That means you need to understand exactly what each verb means to use them correctly

那意味着您要准确地理解每个动词 的意思，以便在您讲话时

when you speak.

正确地使用它们。

Let’s start with a basic introduction.

我们从基本介绍开始。

Part one: how to use 'should.'

第一部分：怎样使用“should”。

Let’s look quickly at the different ways you can use 'should' in English.

我们来快速看看您可以使用 英文“should”的不同方式。

For this lesson, we’ll use 'should' as our ‘base’ verb.

本节课，我们会使用“should”作为 我们的“基础”动词。

You’ll learn about the other verbs, like 'supposed to' or 'had better', by comparing

您会通过与“should”的比较来学习其他的 动词，像是“supposed to”

them to 'should'.

或“had better”。

This means you need to have a good understanding of 'should.'

这意味着您要对“should”有一个好的理解。

First, you can use 'should' to give advice:

首先，您可以用“should”来提出建议：

"You should buy the green one.

"You should buy the green one.

It suits you."

It suits you."

I advise you to do this.

我建议您做这个。

"You shouldn’t go to bed so late.

"You shouldn’t go to bed so late.

It’s bad for you."

It’s bad for you."

This is my advice.

这是我的建议。

You can use 'should' to express your opinion.

您可以用”should“来表达您的观点。

"Everyone should see that film.

"Everyone should see that film.

It’s amazing!"

It’s amazing!"

I’m giving you my opinion about the film.

我正在给您我对电影的观点。

"The government should raise taxes on the rich."

"The government should raise taxes on the rich."

This is my opinion, what I think should happen.

这是我的观点，我认为应发生的事情。

Obviously, advice and opinion are similar, and often they’re the same thing.

很显然，建议和观点是类似的， 通常它们是同一件事。

You can also use 'should'—often in the past—to criticise someone else.

您也可以用”should“ — 通常在过去式 — 来批判其他人。

"You shouldn’t have said that."

"You shouldn’t have said that."

I think you did the wrong thing.

我认为您做了错事。

"He should have studied harder for his exams."

"He should have studied harder for his exams."

I don’t think he studied hard enough.

我不认为他学习足够努力。

What connects all of these cases?

这些事例里有什么关联？

In all these uses of 'should', you use 'should' to express what you think is the best thing

在所有这些”should“用法里，您用 ”should“来表达您认为

to do.

最好要做的事情。

If I say 'you should…', I mean 'I think it’s best if you…'

如果我说”'you should…“，我意思是 ”I think it’s best if you…“

Now, let’s look at 'ought to.'

现在，我们来看看”ought to“。

Part two: 'should' vs. 'ought to'.

第二部分：”should“ vs ”ought to“。

In meaning, 'ought to' is exactly the same as 'should'.

在意思上，”ought to“是准确地 与”should“相同。

If you can use 'should' in a sentence, you can also use 'ought to'.

如果您可以在句子里用”should“， 那您也可以用”ought to“。

For example, you can say:

例如，您可以说：

"You should buy the green one."

"You should buy the green one."

Or: "You ought to buy the green one."

或者："You ought to buy the green one."

You can say:

您可以说：

"Everyone should see that film."

"Everyone should see that film."

Or: "Everyone ought to see that film."

或："Everyone ought to see that film."

There’s no difference in meaning.

意思上没有区别。

In both cases, the two sentences with 'should' and 'ought to' have the same meaning.

在两个事例里，有”should“和”ought to“ 的两个句子有相同的意思。

However, there are a couple of differences in how you use 'ought to'.

然而，在您怎样使用”ought to“时， 有几个不同之处。

First, 'ought to' is more formal, more old-fashioned, and less common in modern spoken English.

首先，”ought to“是更正式、更老派的，在 现代英语口语里不太常见。

That means you probably won’t use 'ought to' unless you are writing, or you want to

那意味着您有可能不会用”ought to“， 除非您试着在书写时用它，

sound very formal.

或您想听起来更正式。

Secondly, 'ought to' has a slightly different form.

其次，”ought to“形式略有不同。

Obviously, you need to add 'to'.

很显然，您需要增加”to“。

Also, the negative form is not generally contracted.

同样，否定形式通常不会简写。

So, you can say:

那么，您可以说：

"You shouldn’t have said that."

"You shouldn’t have said that."

With 'should not', you can contract it to 'shouldn’t.'

用“should not”，您可以简写成 “shouldn’t.”

However, with 'ought to', you need to use the full form.

然而，用“ought to”，您需要 用完整形式。

"You ought not to have said that."

"You ought not to have said that."

Again, with 'ought to' the sentence sounds very formal, and it’s unlikely that you’d

同样，用“ought to”的句子听起来很正式， 实际上您

actually say this.

不会这么说。

With 'should', you can make questions, like this:

用“should”，您可以提问，像是这个：

"What time should I get there?"

"What time should I get there?"

With 'ought to', you can technically make questions, but they sound ridiculously formal:

用“ought to”，您可以技术性地提问，但是 它们听起来正式得可笑：

"What time ought I to get there?"

"What time ought I to get there?"

This sounds really old-fashioned and unnatural, so I advise that you don’t use 'ought to'

这真的听起来老派并不自然， 所以我建议您不要用

in this way!

这种方式来用“ought to”！

So, to review, 'ought to' has the same meaning as 'should', but a different form.

所以，要复习一下，“ought to”有与“should” 相同的意思，但是一种不同的形式。

It’s also more formal and less common.

它也更正式并不常用。

Let’s look at our next verb.

我们来看看下一个单词。

Part three: how to use 'supposed to.'

第三部分：怎样使用“supposed to”。

'Supposed to' is similar to 'should', but there’s an important difference.

“Supposed to”与“should”相似，但是 有一个重要的区别。

Look at two sentences:

看两个句子：

"I should be there at 9:00."

"I should be there at 9:00."

"I’m supposed to be there at 9:00."

"I’m supposed to be there at 9:00."

Can you see the difference in meaning?

您可以看出意思上的区别吗？

If not, here’s a clue.

如果不能，这是提示。

Both sentences mean that someone thinks it’s important for you to be there at 9:00.

两个句子意思是某人认为 您在9点钟到场是重要的。

The important question is: who thinks so?

重要的问题是：谁这么认为？

The first sentence:

第一个句子：

"I should be there at 9:00."

"I should be there at 9:00."

…means that you think this is important.

…意思是您认为这是重要的。

It’s important for you personally to be there at 9:00.

在9点钟到场对您自己 是重要的。

The second sentence:

第二句：

"I’m supposed to be there at 9:00."

"I’m supposed to be there at 9:00."

…means that someone else thinks it’s important for you to be there at 9:00.

…意思是别人认为您在 9:00到场很重要。

You might not care, and using 'supposed to' suggests that you probably don’t.

您也许不在乎，使用“supposed to” 建议那些您有可能不做的。

For example, imagine your boss organizes a meeting for 9:00 one morning.

例如，想像您的老板安排某天 早上9点钟有一个会议。

You know the meeting is going to be a waste of time.

您知道这个会议会是浪费时间。

People will talk about a load of pointless stuff, and the meeting will go on much longer

人们会谈论大量无意义的 东西，会议会没

than it needs to.

必要地拉长。

However, your boss thinks it’s important that everyone attends.

然而，您的老板认为每个人 出席是重要的。

So, you might say:

这样，您也许会说：

"I’m supposed to go to the meeting at 9:00."

"I’m supposed to go to the meeting at 9:00."

In this case, the meeting is not important to you, but it is important to someone else

在这个事例，会议对您不重要， 但是对别人（您的老板）

(your boss).

是重要的。

This is a good example of when you might use 'supposed to.'

在您也许会使用“supposed to” 时，这是一个好例子。

Let’s do one more example.

我们来做更多的例子。

Imagine we’re at a wedding, and I’m wearing jeans and an old T-shirt.

想像我们在一个婚礼上，我穿着 牛仔裤和一件旧T恤衫。

You say:

您说：

"You should have worn something more formal!"

"You should have worn something more formal!"

"You were supposed to wear something more formal!"

"You were supposed to wear something more formal!"

Can you tell the difference now?

现在您可以讲出区别吗？

In the first sentence, with 'should', you’re criticising me directly.

在第一句，用“should”，您 正在直接地批评我。

You think I look too scruffy, and that I made a mistake by dressing too informally.

您认为我看起来太邋遢了，我搞错 场合，穿着太不正式。

In the second sentence, with 'supposed to', you’re suggesting that you don’t personally

在第二句，用“supposed to”， 您觉得您个人不会介意我的

care about my appearance, but that other people might expect me to dress more formally.

外表，但是其他人也许 希望我穿着更正式。

There’s one more way to use 'supposed to'.

有另一种方法使用“supposed to”。

Look at an example:

看一个例子：

"I was supposed to finish this essay yesterday."

"I was supposed to finish this essay yesterday."

Can you tell what this means?

您可以说一下这是什么意思吗？

It means that you didn’t finish your essay, and you don’t really want to finish your

它意思是您没有完成您的论文， 您真的不想完成

essay.

自己的论文。

This shows you another common way to use 'supposed to': use it to talk about things you don’t

这告诉您另一种使用“supposed to”的 常用方式：用它来谈论您不想

want to do, or things which you aren’t planning to do.

做的事情，或是您不打算 去做的事情。

For example:

例如：

"I shouldn’t come with you to the cinema.

"I shouldn’t come with you to the cinema.

I’m supposed to be revising."

I’m supposed to be revising."

I’m not revising, and I don’t want to.

我不会改，我不想去。

In fact, maybe I will come to the cinema!

事实上，也许我会去影院！

"I’m supposed to wear a tie, but hardly anyone in the office actually does."

"I’m supposed to wear a tie, but hardly anyone in the office actually does."

I don’t wear a tie, and I don’t care about wearing one.

我没有打领带，我 不介意穿什么。

To review, 'supposed to' has a similar meaning to 'should', but while 'should' expresses

来复习一下，“supposed to”有一个与“should”相似的意思， 但“should”表达

what you think is the right thing to do, 'supposed to' expresses what other people think is the

您认为是要做的对的事情，“supposed to” 表达了其他人认为是

right thing to do.

要做的对的事情。

Let’s move on!

我们继续！

Part four: how to use 'had better.'

第四部分：怎样使用“had better”。

Again, let’s start with a pair of sentences:

同样，我们从一对句子开始：

"You should finish everything today."

"You should finish everything today."

"You’d better finish everything today."

"You’d better finish everything today."

Can you tell the difference?

您可以说出区别吗？

Here’s a clue: using 'had better' gives more information than just using 'should'.

这里是提示：使用“had better”给出的 信息要比只使用“should”的多。

What extra information am I communicating if I use 'had better' instead of 'should'?

如果我使用“had better”来取代“should”， 我可以传递什么额外的信息？

'Had better' expresses a warning or a threat.

“Had better”表达了一个警告 或一个威胁。

Like 'should', you’re giving advice or expressing your opinion about the right thing to do.

像是“should”，您正在对有关要做的对的 事情给出建议或表达您的观点。

However, with 'had better', you’re also saying that something bad will happen if the

然而，使用“had better”，您也在说 如果其他人不听您的，

other person doesn’t listen to you.

某些坏事会发生。

So, if I say:

所以，如果我说：

"You should finish everything today."

"You should finish everything today."

…using 'should' suggests that you have a choice.

…使用“should”建议 您有一个选择。

I think it’s better if you finish everything today, but I don’t think it’s necessary.

我认为如果您今天完成每一件事，那 更好。但是我不认为那是必要的。

But, if I say:

但是，如果我说：

"You’d better finish everything today."

"You’d better finish everything today."

…I’m suggesting that you don’t really have a choice, because if you don’t do what

…我在建议您真的没有选择， 因为如果您不按我讲的

I say, something bad will happen.

做，某些坏事会发生。

With 'had better', you can even put the bad consequences into your sentence, like this:

用“had better”，您甚至可以把糟糕的结果 放入您的句子里，像这样：

"You’d better finish everything today, or the boss won’t be happy."

"You’d better finish everything today, or the boss won’t be happy."

Let’s look at some more examples:

我们再看一些例子：

"You’d better leave now, or you’ll miss your train."

"You’d better leave now, or you’ll miss your train."

"He’d better apologise, or I’ll never talk to him again!"

"He’d better apologise, or I’ll never talk to him again!"

Sometimes, the bad consequence is a kind of threat, like this:

有时，坏的结果是一种 威胁，像这样：

"You’d better be on time, or you could lose your job."

"You’d better be on time, or you could lose your job."

However, it can just be a way to motivate the other person to do what you say:

然而，它可以只是激励其他人按 您说的去做的一种方式：

"You’d better finish everything today, because you won’t have time tomorrow."

"You’d better finish everything today, because you won’t have time tomorrow."

But, even if you don’t put the bad consequences into your sentence, the idea is still there.

但是，即使如果您没有把坏的结果放入 您的句子里，这个想法仍然存在。

If I say:

如果我说：

"You’d better be on time."

"You’d better be on time."

You would still understand that something bad will happen if you’re not on time, even

您仍然会理解如果您没有准时， 某些坏事会发生，即使

though I’m not saying what that bad thing is.

尽管我没有讲出坏事是什么。

Let’s do a review.

我们来复习一下。

We use the verbs 'should', 'ought to', 'supposed to' and 'had better' to say what you or other

我们使用动词“should”、“ought to”、 “supposed to”和“had better”

people think is the right thing to do.

来说您或其他人认为是对的 要做的事情。

That means these verbs express advice, opinion, criticism or (for 'had better'), warnings

那意味着这些动词表达了 建议、观点、批评，或

or threats.

(适用于“had better”)警告或威胁。

'Should' and 'ought to' have the same meaning, although 'ought to' is much more formal and

“Should”和“ought to”有相同的意思， 尽管“ought to”太正式并

is not commonly used in spoken English.

在英语口语里不太常用。

'Supposed to' refers to what other people think is right, while 'should' expresses what

在“should”表达您认为是对的时候， “Supposed to”指的是

you think is right.

其他人认为的是对的。

'Had better' expresses the idea that something bad will happen if you don’t do what I say.

“Had better”表达如果您不按我说的 去做，会有坏事发生的想法。

This is why 'had better' can also be used to make threats or give someone a warning.

这是为什么“had better”也可以用于 做出威胁或给某人一个警告。

That’s the end of the lesson.

本节课就到此结束了。

I hope it was helpful!

我希望那些是有用的！

Want more practice with this topic?

想要更多有关这个主题的练习吗？

Check out the full version of the lesson on our website: Oxford Online English dot com.

到我们的网站看一下本节课的完整版本： Oxford Online English dot com。

Thanks for watching.

感谢观看！

See you next time!

下次见！