Дипломная работа: Modal verbs

E.g. We were to meet him at the station. (It is not clear from the sentence if the action will take place).

If the speaker wishes to make it clear at once that the plan was not fulfilled, the Perfect infinitive is used to show that.

E.g. We were to have met him t the station. (That means that we failed to meet him). However, the simple infinitive may also be used in this case.

In reported speech (in past-time contexts) must remains unchanged in all of its meanings.

E.g. He said he must do it without delay.

He said I mustn’t tell anyone about it.

The doctor told her that she must eat .

They believed the story must be true .

Parallel to must , had to + infinitive is also used occasionally in reported speech to express obligation.

E.g. He said he had to make a telephone call at once.

In this case had to is close to must in meaning: it does not include the idea of a realized action but refers to some future moment.

Ought to

The modal verb ought to has only one form which is used “with reference to the present of future. In reported speech it remains unchanged. Ought is always followed by the infinitive with to .

Ought to has the following meanings:

1) obligation , which in different contexts may acquire additional shades of meaning, such as advisability and desirability,

E.g. You ought to say a word or two about yourself.

Ought she to warn him?

He oughtn’t to mention it to anybody.

“It doesn’t mean you ought to marry a Yankee.” He persisted.(F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In this meaning ought to is possible in all kinds of sentences, though it is felt to be awkward in questions where should is preferred.

Generally ought to refers an action to the future and is followed by the simple infinitive. With reference to the present ought to is used with the continuous infinitive or with the simple infinitive if the verb is stative.

E.g. At your age you ought to be earning your living.

You ought to feel some respect for your elders.

It was getting darker and darker – all those tomb-stones ought to be repainted, sure enough, only that would spoil them, of course. (F. Scott Fitzgerald).

“If you care for him you certainly oughtn’t to belittle yourself in front of him,” said Ailie in a flash, her head high. (F. Scott Fitzgerald)

In combination with the perfect infinitive ought to in the affirmative form shows that a desirable action was no fulfilled.

E.g. You ought to have chosen a more suitable time to tell me this news.

In the negative form ought to in combination with the Perfect Infinitive shows that an undesirable action was fulfilled

E.g. I’m sorry. I ought to have said it.

You oughtn’t to have married her, David. It was a great mistake.