4 Lesson Modal Verbs I

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MODALS TO EXPRESS OBLIGATION

"Have to", "must", and "should" are used to express obligation.

1. Must expresses a strong obligation:

Must examples

2. Have to expresses a general obligation based on a law or a rule:

Have to examples

3. Sometimes must and have to are similar:

Must-have to examples

Sometimes there is a difference. Must is personal. We use must when we express our personal feelings, and say what we think is important or necessary:

Must obligation

Have to is impersonal. It expresses a general obligation based on what another person tells us to do.

Have to obligation

4. Have to is used to form the question, and the past and future:

Have to tense

5. Should expresses what is right, or an idea. It expresses advice, or a mild obligation:

Should examples

Negatives

Mustn't and don't have to expresses very different ideas:

Negatives examples

 

MODALS TO EXPRESS PERMISSION

Can, can't, and be allowed to are used to express permission. Allowed to is passive:

Modals permission

 

 

QUESTION: Complete with the most suitable modal verb:

In my school, students ____________ wear uniforms but sometimes we ______________ wear some sport clothes. When students behave in a bad way, their parents ___________ go to school and talk to the Principal about their bad behaviour. My mother doesn't like these people, so she always says that I _____________ get good friends.