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Expressing Obligation
Expressing Obligation
By Rob Lane
In the last post, I wrote about how ability is expressed using modal verbs and phrases. In this article, I will give an overview obligation. Obligation may be described as pressure on a person to do something or not to do something.
There are strong obligations such as rules and necessities, and weak obligations such as advice. Obligations may be internal, from the speaker’s body or mind, and external obligations such as regulations.
In this post, we will see only the most common forms used to express standard obligation. Other, more advanced forms will be looked at in future posts. There are a number of important rules that you should take special care to understand and practice.
Strong Obligation
In present, need to, must and have to are all used to express strong obligation. All three have equal strength. Often learners have difficulties with must and have to and often see little difference between the two. In brief, the rule is that must is used for internal obligations, and have to is used for external obligations.
My tooth is sore. I must go to the dentist.
To travel, you have to carry a passport.
Although this is the guiding rule, there are so many exceptions to it that it is a weak rule. The rule should be applied. You should be prepared for plenty of examples that go against it.
The negative forms of these verbs are also of interest. Compare these examples:
You must not bring food into the class.
You don’t have to bring food into the class.
The first prohibits bringing food into class. The second says that it is not necessary for you to bring food in but you may.
Learners should take special care with structures such as must have done and should have done. These forms will be looked at in a later post.
Weak Obligation
In present, weak obligation is often described in grammar books as the right/ correct thing to do. Weak obligations may come from tradition, custom or culture and may be seen as advice.
Should and ought to are the most common verbs used. There is no difference between the two.
Often, learners are unfamiliar with ought to as this may be difficult to hear in conversations because it is contracted.
Our friend is unwell. We should visit him. (It is a nice thing to do.)
You ought to prepare your bags the night before your flight. (It is a good idea.)
Obligation in Past
Obligation in past in much more simple: use only needed to or had to. Had to is most common. There is no difference in strength or internal/ external in the past.
As mentioned earlier there are a number of other structures such as: be supposed to, must have done, should have done etc. These structures are not used to standard obligation and will be looked at in future posts.
You Should
Pay special attention to the strong and weak, internal and external rules, and the differences in present and past.
Write a dialogue between two people comparing their obligations in the past with today.
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We use modal auxiliary verbs to express various aspects of obligation and freedom. These uses of modal verbs are very important in the polite expression of requests, invitations and instructions.
Strong obligation
We can express strong obligation using must and need. In orders, we sometimes use will to express strong obligation.
- You must send your application on or before the 18th of this month.
- They must pay the dues.
- We must learn to cooperate.
- You need a visa to visit foreign countries.
- He needs to improve his communication skills.
- She needs to work harder.
- All students will hand in their assignments by Friday. (This is actually an order.)
- She will clean the floors whether she likes it or not.
Prohibition
To prohibit we can use the auxiliaries must not, may not and cannot.
- Students must not use the staff car park.
- You may not smoke in the kitchen.
- Books may not be taken out of the library.
- You can’t wear that dress to work.
- She can’t do it.
Weak obligation; recommendation
These ideas are expressed using the auxiliary verbs should, ought, had better, might and shall.
- You should stop smoking.
- He ought to sort things out.
- You had better get that mole checked.
- She really ought to mend her ways.
- You might ask his opinion.
- What shall we do now?
В предыдущем посте мы рассматривали такие функции модальных глаголов как способность и привычные действия. Сегодня рассмотрим, как употреблять глаголы, выражающие обязательство /необходимость, запрет и совет.
Модальные глаголы, выражающие обязательство /необходимость
Если нужно сказать, что что-то необходимо сделать, мы используем must и have to. Можно также использовать need to.
- I must complete the report by the end of the working day — я должен закончить отчет к окончанию рабочего дня
- I need to buy some food for supper. – мне нужно купить немного продуктов к ужину.
На письме must и have to обладают аналогичным значением, однако в устной речи есть небольшое отличие.
Когда мы используем have to – это означает, что необходимость вызвана ситуацией, а когда мы используем must – это означает, что говорящий лично чувствует, что что-то необходимо.
- I have to pay for electricity by the 15th day of each month. (It’s a general rule) – я должен заплатить за электричество к 15 числу каждого месяца (это общее правило).
- You must consult a doctor . ( it’s my advice) – ты должен пойти к врачу (это мой совет)
- He must start jogging. ( he feels he needs to) – он должен начать бегать (он чувствует, что ему это нужно)
- The graduators have to pass some exams. (it’s the rule) – выпускники должны сдавать несколько экзаменов (это правило).
Вопросительная форма (Question Form)
Чтобы задать вопрос, мы обычно используем have to (с соответствующими вспомогательными глаголами). Если мы используем must в вопросительном предложении, оно будет звучать с нотками раздражения, особенно если мы сделаем ударение на слово must в своей речи.
- Do you have to visit your grandma today? – Ты должна сегодня навестить бабушку?
- Must you visit your grandma today? I wanted to invite you for a walk — Ты обязательно должна сегодня навестить бабушку? (я совсем не рад) я хотел пригласить тебя на прогулку.
«Have got to» и «will have to» также выражают необходимость, но эти модальные фразы более неформальны.
- You have got to inform everybody of the changes – вам нужно всем сообщить об изменениях.
- She will have to type her contact details on her resume – ей нужно напечатать свои контактные данные на резюме.
Подробнее о have to смотрите наш видеоурок:
[youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oTtDZK3zwKE[/youtube]
Отсутствие обязательства
Когда в чем-то нет необходимости и у нас есть выбор, мы используем don’t have to. Мы также можем использовать don’t need to/needn’t.
- You don’t have to stay at the office so late. You can fulfill the work tomorrow – вам не нужно оставаться в офисе допоздна. вы можете закончить работу завтра (у вас есть выбор).
- She doesn’t have to put on a black dress for the party. – ей не нужно надевать черное платье на вечеринку (у нее есть выбор).
- You don’t need to/needn’t wait up for me tonight. I have a key. — Тебе не обязательно меня дожидаться сегодня вечером. У меня есть ключ.
Формы прошедшего времени
Для выражения обязательства в прошедшем времени, мы используем had to. Прошедшей формы от must не существует.
- I had to agree for his unfavorable conditions – мне пришлось согласиться на его невыгодные условия
Для выражения отсутствия обязательства в прошедшем времени используется didn’t have to:
- You didn’t have to get me a present. That’s very kind of you. — Вам не обязательно было делать мне подарок. Очень мило с вашей стороны.
Модальные глаголы, выражающие запрет
Если нам нужно сказать, что что-то запрещено или не разрешается, мы можем использовать can’t, be not allowed и mustn’t.
- One can’t park there. (таковы правила) – там нельзя парковаться
- Smoking in the office is not allowed. – курить в офисе не разрешается
- You must not enter the prohibited area. – Нельзя входить в запретную зону
Примечание:
Must и have to обладают одинаковым значением в утвердительном предложении, но разными в отрицательных.
• He has to/he must set off today – он должен отправиться в путь сегодня (это необходимо)
• I don’t have to go home. — я не должен идти домой (нет необходимости, у меня есть выбор)
• She mustn’t agree with them. – она не должна с ними соглашаться (важно, чтобы она не соглашалась)
Форма прошедшего времени
Для выражения запрета в прошедшем времени мы используем couldn’t или wasn’t allowed to:
- Jane wasn’t allowed to go to the forest with her friends – Джейн не разрешили пойти в лес с друзьями.
- We were late to the casting so we couldn’t take part in it. – мы опоздали на кастинг, поэтому нам не разрешили принять участие.
Модальные глаголы, выражающие совет
Если вы желаете дать кому-либо совет, используйте should, should not (shouldn’t), ought to и ought not to (oughtn’t to).
- You look pale. You should take a rest. – ты выглядишь бледным. тебе нужно отдохнуть.
- This color isn’t yours. You should try red colors. – этот не твой цвет. тебе нужно попробовать красные тона.
- You shouldn’t leave your windows open for thieves. – тебе не стоит оставлять окна открытыми для воров.
Примите к сведению, что эти предложения выражают ненавязчивый совет. Если вы хотите убедить кого-то в чем-то, используйте must и have to. Убедительный совет превращается в необходимость.
- You smoke too much and it is not good for your health. You must/have to give up smoking. – ты слишком много куришь и это нехорошо для здоровья. ты должен бросить курить (это необходимо)
- You have to/must study more if you want to become the best student. – тебе нужно больше заниматься, если ты хочешь стать лучшим студентом (это необходимо)
Предлагаем вам пройти небольшой тест на тему модальных глаголов, выражающих необходимость.
Modal Verbs of Obligation
1. We have a lot of work tomorrow. You _______________ be late.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
2. The museum is free. You _______________ pay to get in.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
3. Children _______________ tell lies. It’s very naughty.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
4. John’s a millionaire. He _______________ go to work.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
5. I _______________ do my washing, because my mother does it for me.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
6. We _______________ rush. We’ve got plenty of time.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
7. You _______________ smoke inside the school.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
8. You can borrow my new dress but you _______________ get it dirty.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
9. We _______________ miss the train, it’s the last one tonight.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
10. She _______________ do this work today, because she can do it tomorrow.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
11. I _______________ clean the floor today because I cleaned it yesterday.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
12. We _______________ stay in a hotel in London, we can stay with my brother.
a) mustn’t
b) don’t have to
c) doesn’t have to
FUNCTIONS
MODALS
EXAMPLES
OBLIGATION
DUTY
NECESSITY
MUST
Express
duty / strong obligation (subjective opinion)
I must
contact the authorities for further information.
HAVE
TO
Express
strong necessity / obligation (objective opinion)
She
said that we have to be at the airport by 9:00.
HAD
TO
is
the past form of must and have to
He
had to work late yesterday, so he didn’t go to the party.
SHOULD
/ OUGHT TO
Express
duty / weak obligation
They
should clear away the mess in the kitchen.
You
ought to be more careful.
ABSENCE
OF NECESSITY
DON’T
HAVE TO / DON’T NEED TO / NEEDN’T
It
isn’t necessary to do sth in the present or future
The
farmer needn’t
/
doesn’t have to / doesn’t need to buy any eggs.
DIDN’T
HAVE TO
It
wasn’t necessary to do sth
He
didn’t have to invite everyone to the party. (We don’t know
if he invited everyone.)
PERMISSION
PROHIBITION
CAN
/ MAY
Ask
for / give permission
Can I go swimming?
– No, you can’t. (informal)
May I have a look
at this report?
–
Certainly.
(more formal)
MUSTN’T
/ CAN’T
It
is forbidden, against the rules or law, you are not allowed
You
mustn’t / can’t park here.
POSSIBILITY
CAN
+ PRESENT INFINITIVE*
General
or theoretical possibility
Going
to the gym can be boring.
COULD
/ MAY / MIGHT + PRESENT INFINITIVE*
Possibility
in a specific situation
(We
don’t use may in questions)
John
is late. He could be stuck in traffic.
COULD
/ MIGHT / WOULD + PERFECT INFINITIVE*
Sth
in the past that was possible but didn’t happen
He
could have come with us, if he hadn’t missed the train.
ABILITY
INABILITY
CAN
Expresses
ability in the present or future
He
can fly a helicopter.
COULD
Expresses
general repeated ability in the past
He
could run very fast when he was young.
WAS(N’T)
ABLE TO
Expresses
(in)ability on a specific occasion in the past
I was(n’t)
able to find all the answers to the questions.
COULDN’T
Expresses
any kind of inability in the past, repeated or specific
I couldn’t
write when I was four.
I couldn’t
/ was(n’t) able to speak to him yesterday.
LOGICAL
ASSUMPTIONS
DEDUCTIONS
MUST
Almost
certain that this is / was true
He
isn’t at work. So he must be on his way home.
Jack
hasn’t come yet. Something must have delayed him.
MAY
/ MIGHT / COULD /
Possible
that this is / was true
Where’s
Aunt Julia? – She may / might / could still be at work.
CAN’T
/ COULDN’T
Almost
certain that this is / was impossible
That
can’t be Greg! Greg has blue eyes and blond hair.
Ann
couldn’t have cooked dinner. She’s been at work since morning.
CRITICISM
COULD
/ SHOULD / OUGHT TO
You
could at least be polite to her. (present)
You
could at least have called to cancel it yesterday. (past)
He
should call us back.
She
should have told us. (but she didn’t)
You
ought to be more careful.
OFFERS
SUGGESTIONS
CAN
/ COULD / SHALL / WOULD
Can
I
give you a hand?
We
could watch TV.
Shall I give you a
lift?
Would you like a cup
of tea?
ADVICE
SHOULD
/ OUGHT TO
You
should revise for your test.
You
ought to abide by the rules.
should/ought to — We use _____ to give advice. , must/ have to — We use______ for obligation, strong advice, possibility., mustn’t — We use_____ to say that something isn’t allowed or for strong negative advice. , don’t have to/ don’t need to/ needn’t — We use_____ to express lack of obligation or necessity. , to be supposed to — We use _____ to talk about rules and also about what people or expect.,
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