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  • Theory - Modal Verbs For Obligation & Prohibition

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    This document summarizes the use of modal verbs for permission, obligation, prohibition, and ability in both the present and past tenses. It discusses the differences between "can", "could", and "may" for permission, "should" and "ought to" for weak obligation, and "must" and "have to" for strong obligation. It also covers "shouldn't", "mustn't", and "can't" for prohibition, and uses of "could", "be able to", and "manage" to discuss ability in the past tense.

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    Explanation about the Modal verbs.

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    Theory - Modal Verbs for Obligation & Prohibition

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    This document summarizes the use of modal verbs for permission, obligation, prohibition, and ability in both the present and past tenses. It discusses the differences between "can", "could", and "may" for permission, "should" and "ought to" for weak obligation, and "must" and "have to" for strong obligation. It also covers "shouldn't", "mustn't", and "can't" for prohibition, and uses of "could", "be able to", and "manage" to discuss ability in the past tense.

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    33 views2 pages

    Theory - Modal Verbs For Obligation & Prohibition

    Uploaded by

    lamananda
    This document summarizes the use of modal verbs for permission, obligation, prohibition, and ability in both the present and past tenses. It discusses the differences between "can", "could", and "may" for permission, "should" and "ought to" for weak obligation, and "must" and "have to" for strong obligation. It also covers "shouldn't", "mustn't", and "can't" for prohibition, and uses of "could", "be able to", and "manage" to discuss ability in the past tense.

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    Modal Verbs for Permission, Obligation and Prohibition - Present

    1) Permission. Can Can I have a glass of water, please?


    Could Could we open the window, please?
    May May I go to the bathroom?

    They all mean the same, but “can” is more informal, “could” and “may” are more
    polite, and “may” is more formal.

    2) Obligation.

    a) Weak Obligation Should You should eat more fiber.


    Ought to I ought to be there on time

    Both “should” and “ought to” are similar, but since “ought to” is more formal, it is
    more used in written texts (legal documents, etc.). They both express advice or
    suggestion. It is not mandatory; you can choose if you are going to do it or not.

    b) Strong Obligation Must We must buy more drinks for the party.
    Have to We have to wear the uniform at school.

    Although both “must” and “have to” are used indistinctly when speaking, “must” is
    generally used when we decide that something is necessary (internal obligation), and
    “have to” when somebody else decides that it is necessary (external obligation)
    Teacher: You must hand in your essays next Friday.
    Students: We have to hand in our essays next Friday.

    3) Prohibition or Negative Obligation.

    a) Weak Prohibition Shouldn't You shouldn't smoke.


    Oughtn't to We oughtn't to tell them,

    b) Strong Prohibition Mustn't You mustn't enter here


    Can't You can't enter here

    Although “must” and “have to” have similar meanings, the meanings of “mustn't”
    and “don't have to” are different; “mustn't” means “don't do it”, whereas “don't have
    to” means “it is not necessary to do it (but you can, if you want)”. Compare.
    We mustn't come. ( = don't come)
    We don't have to come. (= it is not necessary that we come, but we can if we want)
    Should, Must, Can - Past

    1) Should. Should have


    + Past Participle
    Shouldn't have

    This structure is used to reproach (oneself or other person) for having done or not
    having done something in the past.
    I'm going to be late. I should have left home earlier. (but I didn't)
    Mike ruined our party! You shouldn't have invited him. (but you did)

    2) Must. Had to In my youth, we had to wear unifors at school.


    Couldn't In my youth, we couldn't contradict the adults.
    Not be allowed to In my youth, women weren't allowed to vote.

    Since “must” doesn't have a past, we use “had to” to express a past obligation. But
    in the case of “mustn't” we use “couldn't”, “not allowed to” or “not permitted to”;
    because “didn't have to” means “it wasn't necessary, but it was all right if we did it”.
    In my trip to India, I couldn't pay in euros. (it was not permitted)
    In my trip to India, I didn't have to pay in euros. (it wasn't necessary, but I could)

    2) Can.

    a) Affirmative. Could In my youth, I could play the piano very well.


    Be able to Peter was able to escape from the accident.
    Managed We managed to solve the prioblem just in time.

    We use “could” to talk about things which were possible in a long period (past
    ability) whereas “be able to” and “managed” are used for things which were possible
    only on one occasion. In Spanish it is the same difference between “podía” (could)
    and “pude” (“be able to / manage”)

    b) Negative. Couldn't When I arrived, I couldn't say a word.


    Not be able to The victims weren't able to escape.
    Didn't manage to The victims didn't manage to escape.

    In the negative, “couldn't” “not be able to” or “didn't manage to” can be used for
    either things than were possible in a long period or on just one occasion.

    c) Other Tenses. Since “can” is a modal verb, it has no infinitive form, future
    form, or perfect form. So, in those cases, we use “be able to”
    He wants to be able to dance well. (He wants to can dance well)
    We won't be able to go. (We wont' can go)
    He has been able to finish. (He has could finish)

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