You should consider going.
You might consider going.
You ought to consider going.
Could someone please explain the difference between these to me?
English Language Learners Stack Exchange is a question and answer site for speakers of other languages learning English. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityYou should consider going.
You might consider going.
You ought to consider going.
Could someone please explain the difference between these to me?
Without any context I don't know the tone of voice! Are we throwing someone out of a party or recommending an art exhibition? I'll assume it's an art exhibition.
[By the way, we would normally just say, "You should go" or "You ought to go".]
*You should consider going.*
- This suggests nothing more than "I think you would enjoy it."
*You ought to consider going.*
- This has a slight implication that it is your duty to go: perhaps I think you would profit from going. Or perhaps I think you owe it to the artist to go and see his/her paintings.
*You might consider going*
- This is used either as a polite suggestion -
"I went to see it last week. Actually John, you might consider going. I think you would enjoy it."
or as a mild entreaty to think about it at least -
"I'm not going. I don't like his paintings!"
"But he's your brother! You might (at least) consider going.")
[Might has so many uses. I think it must be a difficult word to learn.]