Student’s name:__________________________ Date:______/____/______

Teacher’s name:__________________________ Class:_____/____/______

Have to (objective obligation)

We often use have to to say that something is obligatory, for example:

• Children have to go to school.

Structure of Have to
Have to is often grouped with modal auxiliary verbs for convenience, but in fact it is not a
modal verb. It is not even an auxiliary verb. In the have to structure, "have" is a main verb. The
structure is:

subject + auxiliary verb + have + infinitive (with to)

Look at these examples in the simple tense:

subject auxiliary verb main verb have infinitive (with to)

+ She has to work.

- I do not have to see the doctor.

? Did you have to go to school?

Use of Have to
In general, have to expresses impersonal obligation. The subject of have to is obliged or forced
to act by a separate, external power (for example, the Law or school rules). Have to is objective.
Look at these examples:

• In France, you have to drive on the right.

• In England, most schoolchildren have to wear a uniform.
• John has to wear a tie at work.

In each of the above cases, the obligation is not the subject's opinion or idea. The obligation is
imposed from outside.

We can use have to in all tenses, and also with modal auxiliaries. We conjugate it just like any
other main verb. Here are some examples:
 main verb
subject auxiliary verb infinitive
have

past simple I had to work yesterday.

present simple I have to work today.

future simple I will have to work tomorrow.

present continuous She is having to wait.

present perfect We have had to change the time.

modal (may) They may have to do it again.

Must (subjective obligation)

In general, must expresses personal obligation. Must expresses what the speaker thinks is
necessary. Must is subjective.
It is sometimes possible to use must for real
obligation, for example a rule or a law. But
• I must stop smoking.
generally we use have to for this.
• You must visit us soon.
• He must work harder.

In each of the above cases, the "obligation" is the opinion or idea of the person speaking. In fact,
it is not a real obligation. It is not imposed from outside.

We can use must to talk about the present or the future. Look at these examples:

• I must go now. (present)

• I must call my mother tomorrow. (future)

We cannot use must to talk about the past. We use had to to talk about the past.

Should
Affirmative Interrogative Negative
SUBJECT+SHOULD+MAIN SHOULD+SUBJECT+MAIN SUBJECT+SHOULDN’T+MAIN
VERB VERB VERB
You should see a doctor. Should I see a doctor? You shouldn’t see a doctor.

Should is used to express what the speaker thinks is right or the best thing to do. It expresses
mild obligation, or advice.

I should do more work. (this is my opinion about me.)

You should stop smoking. ( I’m telling you what I think.)
Do you think we should study more? (I’m asking you for your opinion.)
 Shouldn’t expresses negative advice.

You shouldn’t sit so close to the TV. It’s bad for your eyes.

Should expresses the opinion of the speaker, and it is often introduced by I think or I don’t
think.

I think politicians should listen more.

I don’t think people should get married until they are 21.

Practice
1. Match the sentences.

a. My brother has hurt his back. ( )Yes, I must get an appointment.

b. You must try that new restaurant in town. ( )She should go to bed early.
c. Julia has to get up at 5 a.m. tomorrow. ( )We must hurry.
d. I think you should have a haircut. ( )You should take English
e. The meeting starts in five minutes. classes.
f. I have to speak English in my job. ( )But you have to book a table.
( )He should go to the doctor.

2. Complete with the correct alternative.

.a I'm glad I _______________________________wear a uniform at work. (don’t have

to/shouldn’t)
.b I think she _______________________________go to university. (must/ should)
.c You really _______________________________eat so much chocolate. (don’t have
to/shouldn’t)
.d We don't think you _______________________________travel abroad alone.
(should/must)
.e You _______________________________be 18 before you can drive. (have to/don’t
have to)
.f I _______________________________do some studying for my exam tomorrow.
(don’t have to/must)

Ought To
"Ought to" is used to advise or make recommendations. "Ought to" also expresses
assumption or expectation as well as strong probability, often with the idea that something is
deserved. "Ought not" (without "to") is used to advise against doing something, although Americans
prefer the less formal forms "should not" or "had better not."

Examples:

• You ought to stop smoking. recommendation

• Jim ought to get the promotion. It is expected because he deserves it.
• This stock ought to increase in value. probability
• Mark ought not drink so much. advice against something (notice there is no "to")
Notice "Ought not"
Remember that "ought to" loses the "to" in the negative. Instead of "ought not to," we say
"ought not." "Ought not" is more commonly used in British English. Americans prefer "should not."

Examples:

• You ought not smoke so much.

• She ought not take such risks while skiing.
• They ought not carry so much cash while traveling.

Have Got To
“Have to” and "have got to" are used to express necessity and obligation. But, “have got to”
can be used only in to talk about the present.

To talk about the other tenses, we use have to.

Examples:

• Drivers have got to get a license to drive a car in the US. necessity
• I have got to be at work by 8:30 AM. obligation

Can vs Be allowed to
Can and be allowed to express permission. Can is more formal and usually spoken.

You can borrow my bike, but you can’t take the car. I need it.
You are allowed to borrow my bike, but you aren’t allowed to take the car. I need it.
Are we allowed to use our notebooks in this test?
Is she allowed to use stay out for a long time?
He isn’t allowed to take the car. He’s only fourteen.

We must use be allowed to when we need to talk about permission using a modal auxiliary
verb.

She won’t be allowed to drive until she is eighteen.

Shall vs Will
Shall and will can be used to express offers. They are both modal verbs.
Shall I carry your bag for you?
Shall we go out for a meal tonight?
 The contracted form of will is commonly used to express an intention, decision, or offer
made at the moment of speaking.

It’s her birthday today. I think I’ll buy her some flowers.
Give me your suitcase. I’ll carry it for you.
Give it back or I’ll call the police.