OBLIGATION

USE Specific or personal obligation / necessity

EXAMPLES I must remember to phone Emily tonight. Its her birthday You must be in time for class tomorrow. Theres a test. You must see that film. Its fantastic. You have to wear a seatbelt in a car Do you have to work on Saturdays? I have to get up early tomorrow. My interview is at 9.00 You have to see that film. Its fantastic You mustnt eat that cake- its for the party You mustnt touch that. Its dangerous. You dont have to pay for tickets. They are free

REMARKS

MUST + INFINITIVE

Must is a modal verb. The only forms are must and mustnt

Strong recommendations

HAVE TO + INFINITIVE

General or external obligation / necessity (eg rules and law)

In the past we only can use had to for obligation/necessity Have got to is often used instead of have to in spoken English.

Strong recommendation

You can use cant or not allowed to instead of mustnt: You mustnt park here. You cant park here. You are not allowed to park here.

MUSTNT + INFINITIVE

Prohibition

DONT HAVE TO + INFINITIVE

No obligation/ necessity You dont have to go to the party if you dont want to Should is not as strong as must/have to. Should is a modal verb. The only forms are should and shouldnt You can also use ought to and ought not instead of should /shouldnt: You should take an umbrella with you. You ought to take an umbrella with you

SHOULD/SHOULDNT + INFINITIVE

Advice or opinion: we use it to say if we think something is the right or wrong thing to do

You should take warm clothes with you to Dublin. It might be cold at night I think the government should do something

DEDUCTION

USE

EXAMPLES

REMARKS

MUST

When you are sure something is true

They must be out. There arent any lights on. She must have a lot of money. She drives a Porsche. We often use must, might/ may and cant to say how sure or certain we are about something (based on the information we have)

His phone is switched off. He might be on the plane now. MAY / MIGHT When you think something is possibly true She is not at home. She may be working. He hasnt written. He may not have my address In this context, the opposite of must is cant (NOT mustnt) She might not like that skirt. Its not her style

He cant be ill. I saw him at the gym CANT When you are sure something is impossible They cant be Italian. They are speaking to each other in Spanish.

ABILITY AND POSSIBILITY

USE

EXAMPLES

REMARKS

CAN

Ability and possibility

I can speak Spanish very well She cant come tonight. She is ill

CAN is a modal verb: it only has a present, past and conditional form (but can also be used with a future meaning)

COULD

Ability and possibility

She could play the violin when she was 3 They couldnt wait because they were in a hurry Could you open that door, please?

For other tenses and forms use BE ABLE TO

You can use BE ABLE TO in the present, past, future, present perfect and as gerund or infinitive.

I am able to accept your invitation They werent able to come BE ABLE TO + INFINITIVE Ability and possibility Ill able to practice my English in London She has been able to speak French since she was a child Id like to be able to ski I love being able to sleep late at weekends. Be able to in the present and past is more formal than can / could.