You should/might/ought to consider going

Question

You should consider going.

You might consider going.

You ought to consider going.

Could someone please explain the difference between these to me?

Answer 1

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.]