Have to/Supposed to/Ought to

What's the difference between have to, supposed to and ought to?

Have to

When you must do something, you have to do it. It is used for a situation that has no choice. Have to is used for obligations.

"Students must wear their uniforms to school or they will be sent home."

"In England, you have to drive on the left."

Supposed to

Supposed to is used when we are talking about our obligations. Use supposed to when saying what is the best thing to do in a situation; the correct way of doing things. For example, use supposed to for cultural rules and expectations.

"You are not supposed to talk loudly in a library."

"I totally forgot I was supposed to call you last night, sorry."

Ought to

When we should do something, but we do not have to do if, we ought to do it. It is not as strong as must. Ought to is not usually used in questions or negative sentences. Use it to advise or make recommendations.

"You ought to email Mike and say thanks for the nice present he bought you."

"We ought to wear sunglasses, I think it's going to be a very sunny day."

Now decide which words are needed to complete these sentences:

• 1 - We are not ___ to smoke here.
  
  have
  supposed
  ought
  
  
• 2 - I am ___ to be in school now, but I am not feeling well.
  
  have
  ought
  supposed
  
  
• 3 - You ___ to see a doctor.
  
  ought
  supposed
  must
  
  
• 4 - Are we ___ to meet him tonight?
  
  ought
  have
  supposed
  
  
• 5 - Do we ___ to finish this today?
  
  supposed
  ought
  have
  
  
• 6 - If it rains, they will ___ to change their plans.
  
  supposed
  have
  ought
  
  
• 7 - My wife's busy so I ___ pick up my children from school today.
  
  ought to
  have to
  supposed to
  
  
• 8 - Children ___ be able to read by the age of 7.
  
  ought to
  supposed to
  have to