The meaning of "ought" is a bit tricky. It's a modal verb, meaning it helps another verb express something like obligation, necessity, or probability. Here's a breakdown:
* Obligation: "You ought to apologize for your behavior." (This means it's morally right or expected to apologize.)
* Necessity: "We ought to leave early if we want to catch the train." (This means it's necessary to leave early to achieve the desired outcome.)
* Probability: "He ought to be here by now." (This means it's likely he's arrived, based on the context.)
Important: "Ought" is often used in more formal contexts. It is less common in everyday conversation, where people might use "should" or "shouldn't" instead.