Can anyone explain to me the difference between "should and "ought to"

I'm French and I don't get it.

Thanx.

I'm not that eloquent though. C'est La Vie.

:shrug:

Kinda like 'cold' and 'chilly', perhaps?

that's about it.

..I don't think I ought to be forced to explain.



You all ought to be able to get it. I don't think I should be forced to explain


http://www.saberingles.com.ar/which/05.html

Used by parents more often during the holiday season.

should: used when the speaker is reluctant to do something that the speaker believes is not too important or does not want to do.

Example: I should cut the lawn. It is getting high.

ought to: used when the speaker is reluctant to do something, but believes it is needed to be done.

Example: I ought to cut the lawn. It is very high.

Hopefully this helps.

and threatens "I ought to"

In both my examples, the speaker said it, but it was not implied that they acted on it.

I should cut the lawn, but I'm getting high.

I ought not cut the lawn, I'm very high.

oK.

But seriously, though.

I'm an English student at the Unviversity and I really need to understand the differnce.

I have exams coming up.

'ought to' is directly equivalent.

you feel obligated to do and will seriously consider doing, whereas "ought to" is used for things you might or might not feel an obligation to do, but would like to do or would like to see someone else do. I think people say "ought to" or 'oughtah' when they really have no intention of following through.

That's just my take on it. No one really thinks that much about this particular word choice, and if you're ever criticized for your use of the words, you ought to slap the critic silly.

LOL

I don't think our professor would appreciate it.

Thanx for your help

should, with helpful usage notes: http://www.bartleby.com/61/83/S0368300.html
ought, also with usage notes:
http://www.bartleby.com/61/16/O0151600.html
First definition of each is practically identical.

The only practical difference in everyday usage is pointed out above: in speech there's usually an imputation of guilt in the latter that isn't necessarily present in the former. I can't think of anything equivalent in French; just think of something your friend would say to you and then how your mother would convey the same concept to you. Perhaps this will get across the idea.

"Ought" is actually an interesting word. As it used to be conjugated into different tenses, just like "shall" and "will," and that it can only be used with the helper "to."

As someone mentioned earlier, "ought to" is mostly interchangeable with "should." "Will" indicates a promise in the first person, and a probability in the second or third. "Shall" indicates a probability in the first person, and a promise in the second or third person. The distinction is used primarily in contract law, I believe.

Ought to and should are similar and can often replace each other when you want to talk about obligation, to give advice and to say what you think what is right for people to do or have done:

You should/ought to invite your cousin to the wedding. (obligation)
You should/ought to see "Chinatown" - it's a great film. (advice)
You should/ought to drink more water. (advice)

Past tense form (obligation unfulfilled):
I should have/ought to have called Ed this morning, but I forgot.

In an official statement, should is more appropriate (here, if should were replaced by ought to, readers might suppose that it would not matter if applications were submitted after the date mentioned):

Applications should be submitted by March 31st at the latest.

Many speakers feel that the normal question and negative forms of ought are very formal. It is common to avoid them by using a structure with think...ought or by using should:

Do you think we ought to go now?
Should we go now?
I don't think people ought to drive like that.
I don't think people should drive like that.

I recommend this grammar book for learners of English:

Practical English Usage
by Michael Swan (Oxford University Press)
(good index, comprehensive, easy to understand, many examples)
(clearly explains usage differences where they occur between American and British English)

Good luck on your exams!

in presidential debates.