Expressing possibility, obligation, permission and prohibition

1. obligation/ necessity – must, have to, (be) supposed to

Eg. You must get there before eight o’clock.
We have to finish the projects by Friday.
We’re supposed to switch off our phones in lessons.
2. no obligation/ no necessity – don’t have to, don’t need to
Eg. You don’t have to eat this if you don’t want to.
We didn’t need to buy tickets.
3. It is/ isn’t a good idea – should/ shouldn’t
Eg. You should leave now if you don’t want to miss the bus.
You shouldn’t take that pill or you’ll feel sick.
4. permission – let (active voice), be allowed to (passive voice)
Eg. The school lets us use the tennis courts at the weekend.
We’re allowed to use the tennis courts at the weekend.
5. prohibition – (not) be allowed to, don’t/doesn’t let
Eg. Cyclists are not allowed to leave their bikes here.
They don’t let cyclists leave their bikes here.
6. the past necessity of actions – didn’t need to, needn’t have

 didn’t need to – we didn’t do something because it wasn’t necessary

Eg. I didn’t need to go to the doctor./ I didn’t go.

 needn’t have – we did something but it wasn’t necessary

Eg. We needn’t have cooked all this food – only four people turned up at the party.