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

英文文法 — 情態助動詞 should、supposed 和 had better

Hi, I’m Martin.

嗨，我是Martin。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

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

在本節課裡，您可以學到怎麼用 情態助動詞和半情態助動詞“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

我們用這些助動詞提出建議、表達 觀點、發出警告或對某人

someone.

提出批評。

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

這些助動詞有類似的意思， 但是不完全一樣。

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

那意思是您要準確地理解每個助動詞 的意思，以便在您講話時

when you speak.

正確地用它們。

Let’s start with a basic introduction.

我們從基礎的介紹開始。

Part one: how to use 'should.'

第一部分：怎麼用“should”。

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

我們來快速了解您可以用 英文“should”的不同方式。

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

在本節課裡，我們會用“should”作為 我們的“基礎”助動詞。

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

您會通過與“should”的比較來學習其他的 助動詞，像是“supposed to”

them to 'should'.

或“had better”。

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

這意思是您要對“should”有一個很好的理解。

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

首先，您可以用“should”提出建議：

"You should buy the green one.

"You should buy the green one.

It suits you."

It suits you."

I advise you to do this.

我建議您做這個。

"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.

這是我的建議。

You can use 'should' to express your opinion.

您可以用”should“來表達您的觀點。

"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.

我正在給您我對電影的觀點。

"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.

這是我的觀點，我認為應發生的事情。

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

很顯然，建議和觀點是類似的， 通常它們是同一件事。

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

您也可以用”should“ — 通常在過去式 — 來批判其他人。

"You shouldn’t have said that."

"You shouldn’t have said that."

I think you did the wrong thing.

我認為您做錯事了。

"He should have studied harder for his exams."

"He should have studied harder for his exams."

I don’t think he studied hard enough.

我認為他學習不夠用心。

What connects all of these cases?

這些事例有什麼關聯？

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

在所有這些”should“用法裡，您用 ”should“來表達您認為

to do.

最好是要做的事情。

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

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

Now, let’s look at 'ought to.'

現在，我們來看看”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“準確地 與”should“相同。

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

如果您可以在句子裡用”should“， 那麼您也可以用”ought to“。

For example, you can say:

例如，您可以說：

"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:

您可以說：

"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.

意思上沒有區別。

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

在兩個事例裡，有”should“和”ought to“ 的兩個句子有相同的意思。

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

然而，在您怎麼用”ought to“時， 有幾個不同之處。

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 現代英文口說裡不太常見。

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

那意思是您有可能不會用”ought to“， 除非您想要在書寫時用它，

sound very formal.

或您想要這聽起來更正式。

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

其次，”ought to“形式上略有不同。

Obviously, you need to add 'to'.

很顯然，您需要增加”to“。

Also, the negative form is not generally contracted.

同樣，否定形式通常不會被縮寫。

So, you can say:

那麼，您可以說：

"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”，您可以縮寫成 “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

同樣，用“ought to”的句子聽 起來很正式，實際上您

actually say this.

不會這麼說。

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

用“should”，您可以提問，像是這個：

"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”，您可以技術性地提問，但是 它們聽起來正式得可笑：

"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'

這真的聽起來老派且不自然， 所以我建議您不要用

in this way!

這種方式來用“ought to”！

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

所以，要複習一下，“ought to”有與“should” 相同的意思，但是是一種不同的形式。

It’s also more formal and less common.

它也更正式並不常用。

Let’s look at our next verb.

我們來看看下一個單字。

Part three: how to use 'supposed to.'

第三部分：怎樣用“supposed to”。

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

“Supposed to”與“should”相似，但是 有一個重要的區別。

Look at two sentences:

看兩個例句：

"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區別嗎？

If not, here’s a clue.

如果不能，這是提示。

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

兩個例句意思是某人認為 您在9點鐘到場是重要的。

The important question is: who thinks so?

重要的問題是：誰這麼認為？

The first sentence:

句一：

"I should be there at 9:00."

"I should be there at 9:00."

…means that you think this is important.

…意思是您認為這是重要的。

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

在9點鐘到場對您自己 是重要的。

The second sentence:

句二：

"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.

…意思是別人認為您在 9:00到場很重要。

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

您也許不在乎，用“supposed to” 表達那些您有可能不做的。

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

例如，想像您的老闆安排某天 早上9點鐘有一個會議。

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

您知道這個會議是浪費時間。

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

人們會談論大量無意義的 東西，會議會沒

than it needs to.

必要地拉得很長。

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

然而，您的老闆認為每個人 出席是很重要的。

So, you might say:

這樣，您也許會說：

"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

在這個事例，會議對您不重要， 但是對別人（您的老闆）

(your boss).

是重要的。

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

在您也許會用“supposed to”時， 這是一個好事例。

Let’s do one more example.

我們來做更多的例句。

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

想像我們在一個婚禮上，我穿著 牛仔褲和一件舊T恤衫。

You say:

您說：

"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?

現在您可以講出區別嗎？

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

句一，用“should”，您 正在直接地批評我。

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

您認為我看起來太邋遢了，我搞錯 場合，穿著太不正式了。

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

句二，用“supposed to”， 您認為您個人不會介意我的

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

外表，但是其他人也許 希望我穿著更正式。

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

有用“supposed to”的另一種方法。

Look at an example:

看一個例句：

"I was supposed to finish this essay yesterday."

"I was supposed to finish this essay yesterday."

Can you tell what this means?

您可以說一下這是什麼意思嗎？

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

它意思是您沒有完成您的論文， 您真的不想完成

essay.

自己的論文。

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

這告訴您另外一種用“supposed to”的 常見方式：用它來談論您不想

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.

我不會改，我不想去。

In fact, maybe I will come to the cinema!

事實上，也許我會去影院！

"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.

我沒有打領帶，我 不介意穿什麼。

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

來複習一下，“supposed to”有一個與“should” 相似的意思，但“should”表達

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

您認為是要做的對的事情，“supposed to” 表達了其他人認為是

right thing to do.

要做的對的事情。

Let’s move on!

我們繼續！

Part four: how to use 'had better.'

第四部分：怎樣用“had better”。

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

同樣，我們從一對句子開始：

"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?

您可以講出區別嗎？

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

這裡是提示：用“had better”給出的 信息要比只用“should”的多。

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

如果我用“had better”來取代“should”， 我可以傳遞什麼額外的信息？

'Had better' expresses a warning or a threat.

“Had better”表達了一個警告 或一個威脅。

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

像是“should”，您正在對有關要做的對的 事情給出建議或表達您的觀點。

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

然而，用“had better”，您也在說 如果其他人不聽您的，

other person doesn’t listen to you.

某些壞事情會發生。

So, if I say:

所以，如果我說：

"You should finish everything today."

"You should finish everything today."

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

…用“should”表明 您可以選擇。

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

我認為如果您今天完成每一件事情，那 更好。但是我不認為那會是必要的。

But, if I say:

但是，如果我說：

"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

…我表明您真的沒有選擇， 因為如果您不按我說的

I say, something bad will happen.

做，某些壞事情會發生。

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結果 植入您的句子裡，像這樣：

"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:

我們再看一些例句：

"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:

有時，壞的結果是一種 威脅，像這樣：

"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，它可以只是激勵其他人按 您說的去做的一種方式：

"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，即使如果您沒有把壞的結果植入 您的句子裡，這個意思仍然存在。

If I say:

如果我說：

"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

您仍然會理解為如果您沒有準時， 某些壞事情會發生，即使

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

儘管我沒有講出壞事情是什麼。

Let’s do a review.

我們來複習一下。

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

我們用助動詞“should”、“ought to”、 “supposed to”和“had better”

people think is the right thing to do.

來講您或其他人認為是對的 要做的事情。

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

那意思是這些動詞表達了 建議、觀點、批評，或

or threats.

(適用於“had better”)警告或威脅。

'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， 儘管“ought to”太正式並

is not commonly used in spoken English.

在英文口說裡不太常用。

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

在“should”表達您認為的是對的時候， “Supposed to”指的是

you think is right.

其他人認為的是對的。

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

“Had better”表達如果您不按我說的 去做，會有壞事情發生的意思。

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

這是為什麼“had better”也可以用於 做出威脅或給某人一個警告。

That’s the end of the lesson.

本節課就到此結束了。

I hope it was helpful!

我希望本節課的內容是有用的！

Want more practice with this topic?

想要有更多的有關這個主題的練習嗎？

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

訪問我們的網站，看一下本節課的完整版本： Oxford Online English dot com。

Thanks for watching.

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！