Modal Verbs of Obligation: Examples & Exercises
Here are two different scenarios we need a bit of guidance on:
Workplace rules:
"At my job, I _____ follow the dress code, but I _____ work on weekends unless there's a special event."
School rules:
"At school, students _____ bring their books every day, but they _____ attend the extra Saturday classes unless they want to."
Hi there
Thank you for your question.
Here's a breakdown of model verbs of obligation:
Model Verbs of Obligation
* Must
* Expresses a strong personal obligation or necessity.
* Often comes from the speaker's opinion or authority.
* Example: "I must finish this report before I go home."
* Have to
* Expresses an external obligation or necessity.
* Often comes from rules, laws, or someone else's expectations.
* Example: "You have to wear a helmet when riding a motorcycle."
* Should
* Expresses a less strong obligation or recommendation.
* Often used to give advice or express what is considered right.
* Example: "You should eat more vegetables."
* Ought to
* Similar to "should," but often considered more formal.
* Expresses a moral obligation or duty.
* Example: "We ought to help those in need."
* Need to
* Expresses a personal necessity or requirement.
* Can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
* Example: "I need to study harder for the exam."
Key Points
* Must is often used for personal obligations, while have to is used for external obligations.
* Should and ought to are used for recommendations and advice.
* Need to is used for personal necessities.
* Mustn't is used to express prohibition.
Examples
* "You must be on time for the meeting." (strong personal obligation)
* "I have to pay my bills by the end of the month." (external obligation)
* "You should exercise regularly." (recommendation)
* "We ought to respect our elders." (moral obligation)
* "I need to buy groceries." (personal necessity)
* "You mustn't smoke in here." (prohibition)
Additional Notes
* Must is only used in the present tense. For past obligations, use had to.
* Have to can be used in all tenses.
* Should and ought to can also be used to express past regrets or criticism (e.g., "You should have studied harder").
Pertaining to your specific query:
At my job, I must follow the dress code, but I don't have to work on weekends unless there's a special event." School rules: "At school, students must bring their books every day, but they don't have to attend the extra Saturday classes unless they want to."
I hope this explanation is helpful! Let me know if you have any more questions.
