Common mistake ought + infinitive (ought to + infinitive)

One common mistake that many people make when using the verb "ought" is forgetting to include the word "to" before the infinitive verb. The correct construction is "ought to" + infinitive.

Omitted "to" in sentences

Here are a few examples of sentences where people often omit the word "to" after "ought":

  • Mistake: You ought study for the exam tomorrow.

  • Correction: You ought to study for the exam tomorrow.

  • Mistake: They ought eat more vegetables to stay healthy.

  • Correction: They ought to eat more vegetables to stay healthy.

Additional examples

Here are a few more examples to illustrate the correct usage of "ought to" followed by an infinitive:

  • "I ought to call my mom and check on her."

  • "Sarah ought to apologize for what she said."

  • "You ought to try this new restaurant, it's really good."

Remember, if you are not sure about the correct use of "ought to," you can always use a grammar checker tool like Linguix to help you catch any mistakes in your writing.

ought + infinitive (ought to + infinitive) mistake examples

  • Incorrect:
    We ought say the truth.

    Correct:
    We ought to say the truth.

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