MODAL VERBS

SUGGESTION AND ADVICE

OBLIGATION AND PROHIB ITION
LACK OF OB LIGATION/NECES SITY
SUGGESTION AND ADVICE
Should
• General advice
• The most common modal verb

Ought to
• More formal than should
• Not used in questions and rarely in negatives.

Had better
• It is common when making a stronger suggestion.
• It is not used in questions
Suggestion and Advice Scale
Stronger suggestion/advice
Had better

Ought to

Should
Weaker suggestion/advice
OBLIGATION
Must
Have to

It shows us that the It shows us that the

obligation comes from the obligation comes from
speaker. It isn’t a law or a somebody else. It’s a law
rule.  or a rule and the speaker
• I must call my dad tonight.
can’t change it.
• John can’t come because he has
to work tomorrow.
PROHIBITION
Both can’t and mustn’t are used to show that something is prohibited – it is not
allowed.

Mustn’t mean
Can’t tells us
s that we are
that something
not allowed to
is against the
do something.
rules.
It is prohibited.
LACK OF NECESSITY/OBLIGATION
"Lack of necessity" is also called "absence of obligation".

Don’t have to You can do

• She doesn’t have to come today. something if
you want to
don't need to. but it’s not
• She doesn’t need to come today.
compulsory.

needn't
• She needn’t come today.