Modal Verbs of Obligation
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We can use have to + infinitive, must + infinitive and should + infinitive to express obligation (something you have to do).
Present | Positive | Negative |
have to / don't have to |
strong obligation (possibly from outside)
|
no obligation
|
must / mustn't | strong obligation (possibly based on the speaker's opinion)
|
negative obligation
|
should / shouldn't | mild obligation or advice
|
mild negative obligation or advice
|
Be careful about the difference between mustn't and don't have to!
Mustn't means it's not allowed, or it's a bad idea:
- You mustn't eat so much chocolate, you'll be sick
- I don't have to get up early at the weekend(of course, if I want to get up early, that's fine, but I can stay in bed if I want).
Past | Positive | Negative |
had to / didn't have to | obligation in the past
|
no obligation in the past
|
must* | changes to 'had to' | - |
should have + pp / shouldn't have + pp | a past action which didn't happen: the advice / regret is too late
|
a past action which didn't happen: the advice / regret is too late
|
* Remember 'must have done' is a modal verb of deduction or speculation, not obligation in the past. For example: Julie must have left. Her coat's not here. See modals of probabilty for more information.