Unsual request

[Sleazy19]

Hi,

I know this is a forum to ask questions related to sex and relationships but I need help with a grammar question and I don't know who else to ask. Since there are a lot of native English speakers around here, someone ought to know the answer:


Speaker A: Carol ought to / must be here by now. It's past 10:00 pm.
Speaker B: Don't worry. She's probably stuck in traffic.

My question is, which modal verb should I use in the sentence above? Ought to OR must????
Please, I need help!!!!!

 

[pellso27]

ought...and or fuck

Fuck, Carol ought to be here by now, God Damn it!

 

[jeepman6]

Hi,

I know this is a forum to ask questions related to sex and relationships but I need help with a grammar question and I don't know who else to ask. Since there are a lot of native English speakers around here, someone ought to know the answer:


Speaker A: Carol ought to / must be here by now. It's past 10:00 pm.
Speaker B: Don't worry. She's probably stuck in traffic.

My question is, which modal verb should I use in the sentence above? Ought to OR must????
Please, I need help!!!!!

I would say, Carol SHOULD be here by now sounds more grammatically correct. At least to me

 

[janeyl]

Hi,

I know this is a forum to ask questions related to sex and relationships but I need help with a grammar question and I don't know who else to ask. Since there are a lot of native English speakers around here, someone ought to know the answer:


Speaker A: Carol ought to / must be here by now. It's past 10:00 pm.
Speaker B: Don't worry. She's probably stuck in traffic.

My question is, which modal verb should I use in the sentence above? Ought to OR must????
Please, I need help!!!!!

neither-"should" sounds better

 

[WhiteKnight326]

Ought to.

The phrase "ought to" implies "should" as "must" implies more of a "you have to do this" sort of thing.

Saying she ought to means you're saying she should be here by now. That's what i would go with

 

[infinity706]

Really, they're both correct. It's just which ever one you prefer. I like the fuck answer, though.

 

[Sleazy19]

that's what a coworker said, that both are correct, can you explain why?

 

[Sleazy19]

ought...and or fuck

Fuck, Carol ought to be here by now, God Damn it!

I like that answer..... but that sentence is part of a standarized test which means the word FUCK cannot be used.

 

[infinity706]

that's what a coworker said, that both are correct, can you explain why?

Are you sure you want to know? Most people hate grammar.

 

[Sleazy19]

Are you sure you want to know? Most people hate grammar.

I'm not like most people. I love grammar.
I'm a bit of a nerd, actually. So, yes. I really want to know.

 

[jeepman6]

that's what a coworker said, that both are correct, can you explain why?

Both are correct. My personal preference is should but that ijmo. I think it looks better in a sentence is all.

 

[SweetErika]

Hi,

I know this is a forum to ask questions related to sex and relationships but I need help with a grammar question and I don't know who else to ask. Since there are a lot of native English speakers around here, someone ought to know the answer:


Speaker A: Carol ought to / must be here by now. It's past 10:00 pm.
Speaker B: Don't worry. She's probably stuck in traffic.

My question is, which modal verb should I use in the sentence above? Ought to OR must????
Please, I need help!!!!!

"Must" doesn't make sense in that sentence to me. It implies more of an imperative than "should" or "ought." IOW, it's a stronger word. Look at the difference in another context:

I should do my laundry today. (Implying I need to do it, or it's an obligation, but it's not imperative.)

I must do my laundry today. (Implies doing the laundry is absolutely necessary, like I might not have any clean clothes to wear if I don't get it done today.)

In this example, "ought to" could be used interchangeably with "should" but not "must" because it also implies an obligation, but not something imperative.

"Ought" doesn't sound good in that particular context you listed either, probably because it implies present/future vs. past.

So, IMO, your best choices are:

Carol should be here by now.

Carol should have arrived by now.

Carol must be here in the next few minutes, or we'll have to leave without her.

Carol ought to/must leave earlier next time to allow for traffic. (Future and imperative, respectively.)

 

[Mr.G]

Agreed

OUGHT to is correct but a tad "olde" English.

She damn well SHOULD be here by now.

She MUST be dead to miss this show!!

And sadly she was. Flaming wreck on the InterState so all this is fucking MOOT now anyway.