Obligation and Suggestion

 

Obligation and suggestion

modal verbs

 

Obligation ●

Must. we can use this modal verb to express obligation.Must is used to express

inner or personal obligation (something that we impossed ourselves). It is also often used in writtenition r rules. In negative mustn’t expresses prohibition rather than lack of obligation. Questions with must are not often used. e.g. I must finish before 5 p.m. if I want to get to the cinema on time. They must follow the instructions. She mustn’t eat in the auditorium.

Remember, must does not change with the subject , doesn’t use auxiliaries or to and is used to express present or future situations, not past.

 

●

Have to. It is

also used to express obligation. We normally use have to to express external obligation (someone else makes you do it). Have to is also used to express that something is necessary. In the negative form not have to, it expresses expr esses lack of obligation (not necessary).

We don’t have to bring anything to the party.

Remember: have to can be used in different tenses: present, past, future, etc. Just remember to use the correct form and auxiliary in each

They had to wear uniform for school.

case.

e.g. I have to deliver this for tomorrow. She has to clean her room before her mom arrives.

 

Suggestion ●

Should. is a modal verb that can be used to express advice or suggestions. Something that we are not obliged to do but it’s a good idea to do it or in the contrary with shouldn’t shouldn’t it’s not a prohibition but it’s not a good idea to do it. e.g. You should go to the doctor, you look terrible. She shouldn’t leave her car open. Should I call her?

 

●

Ought to. this is just an alternative to should. It means the same and we can use them indistinctly. The difference is only in the negative form on which we can’t make contractions. e.g. I ought to go to the doctor I don’t feel well. They ought not to give their name to strangers. We ought to go to the cinema, we don’t have anything to do.

 

●

Had better. another option to should, but with a slight difference. Besides

giving a suggestion, it can also imply a warning. To tell somebody that it will better to do or not do something because there will be not very pleasant repercussions. e.g. You had better tell the truth or you will be grounded. Kevin had better not tak take e the car without permission, his father will get angry.