Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

Declaratives with ought to

414f

Many occurrences of ought to in everyday conversation are associated with

suggestions and advice:

A: Er, I think 

we ought to turn these radiators down you know

.

B: Do you? 

C: It is roasting hot in here isn’t it. 

A: Yeah.

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Speech acts | 691

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[speaker is recounting difficulties with the Health Service, concerning

appointments for treatment that were repeatedly cancelled]

A: They were amazed how many times it was cancelled and how many times I

got there and didn’t have physiotherapy as well. 

B: Mm. And was there anybody there that you felt you could’ve spoken to? 

A: No because I’m not the kind of person that really complains. And it was just

starting to get more and more and I was getting more and more annoyed and

each time I came back on the ambulance the ambulance staff were saying,

‘Well this isn’t good enough, 

you ought to complain

.’ I said, ‘I just don’t like

complaining.’