MODALS VERBS OF PERMISSION AND

OBLIGATION
MODAL VERBS
Don’t take -s when the subject is HE – SHE – IT. The verb
form is the same for all people.
Examples:
I can speak English.

Sara must drive slowly. (Not Sara musts drive slowly.)

They are followed by the base form of the verb without TO.
Examples:
I can speak English. ( not I can to speak English.)

Sara must drive slowly. (not Sara must to drive slowly.)

We form the negative form by adding NOT after the modal verb.
Examples:
I can not (can’t) speak German. ( not I don’t can speak German.

(not Carlos doesn’t

Carlos must not (mustn’t) drive so fast. must drive slowly.)
They go before the subject in the questions and they don’t use
an auxiliaty verb.

Examples:

Can you speak English? ( not Do you can speak English?)

Must Sara drive slowly? (not Does Sara must drive slowly?)
MUST
Must expresses a strong obligation, necessity or that something
is essential. It often shows us that the obligation comes from the
speaker (or the authority that wrote the sentence).
Example:
I must phone my dad. It's his birthday today.
You must do your homework every day.
You must hand in your homework on Sunday or you will
lose ten per cent of your mark.
HAVE TO
Have to is a semi-modal verb and it expresses a strong
obligation, necessity or that something is essential as well. The
verb form changes depending on the person and it shows us
that the obligation comes from outside the speaker.
Example:
We have to wear a uniform when we're working in reception.
Maria has to work tomorrow, so she can't come.
When do we have to hand in our homework?
MUST NOT / MUSTN’T

Must not is used to say that there is an obligation not to do

something or something is prohibited. We use mustn't
particularly when the prohibition comes from the speaker.
Examples:
You mustn't say things like that to your sister.
You mustn't be late to class.

You mustn’t play here – it’s dangerous!

DON’T HAVE TO

We use don’t have to to show that there is no obligation. You

can do something if you want to but it's not an obligation.
Examples:
You don't have to wear a tie in our office, but some
people like to dress more formally.
You don't have to go to the bank to do a transfer. You
can do it online.
You don't have to come with me, honestly. I'll be fine!
NEED TO & DON’ NEED TO / NEEDN’T TO

We use need to and don’t / doesn’t need to or needn’t in the

same way as have to and not have to. OBLIGACION DE FACTOR
EXTERNO
Needn’t to is a Little more formal, but the meaning is the same.
Examples

You need to come to work on weekdays.

You don't need to worried about the exam, you’ve studied

a lot.
CAN – MAY – BE ALLOWED TO

We use can, may and be allowed to to show that something is

possible or permitted.
Examples:
You may use my car if you like.

We can only visit her in hospital between 2 p.m and 4 p.m.

You are allowed to buy food in the staff canteen or you can
eat your own sandwiches there.
We use can to talk about ability as well.

Examples:

You can swim really fast.

I can cook very well.
We use can to ask and give permission too.

Examples:
Can I use your mobile phone?
You can go out until midnight.
CAN’T – MAY NOT – BE NOT ALLOWED TO
We use can't, may not, be not allowed to to talk about
something that is against the rules, particularly when we didn't
make the rules.
Examples:
What does this sign say? Oh, we can't park here.

Sorry, we aren’t allowed to sell knives to under-18s.

You may not take photos in the museum. They're really

strict about it.
 E !
IC
CT
R A
P
TO
M E
T I
’ S
IT
O W
N
Thank you for your attention!