Samenvatting MODAL VERBS

OBLIGATION – PROHIBITION – ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION


OBLIGATION: HAVE TO, NEED TO, MUST = verplichting



To say something is necessary we use have to, need to and must.
1. - The company rules say you have to / need to pay the invoice by the end of the month.
- If you want to join the army, you have to / need to cut your hair.
- You have to / need to put your headlights on. It is getting dark.
2. - You must cut your hair if you want to come to my party.
- You must put your headlights on. I insist!
- I’m telling you, you must stop working so hard!


USE
1. have to and need to:
the situation makes something necessary ('have to' is more frequently used than 'need to')
>> external
2. must:
the speaker personally feels something is important
>> internal


FORM
PAST: You have to / need to cut your hair.
>> You had to / needed to cut your hair.
You must cut your hair.
!!! >> You had to / needed to cut your hair.
FUTURE: You have to / need to cut your hair.
>> You will have to / will needed to cut your hair.
You must cut your hair.
!!! >> You will have to / will need to cut your hair.

, PROHIBITION: MUST NOT, NOT BE ALLOWED TO, CAN’T = verbod


1. - You're not allowed to / can’t park on a double yellow line.
2. - Children, you must not play with matches!
- We must not use that door. The sign says 'private, do not enter'.


USE

1. not be allowed to / can’t:
do not do this! (external prohibition)
>> external
2. must not (mustn’t):
do not do this! (I'm telling you, personal opinion)
>> internal

FORM
PAST: You're not allowed to / can’t park on a double yellow line.
>> You were not allowed to / couldn’t park on a double yellow line.
You must not play with matches.
!!! >> We couldn’t play with matches. We were not allowed to play with matches.
FUTURE: You’re not allowed to / can’t enter this room.
>> You will not be allowed to enter this room.
You mustn’t enter this room.
!!! >> You will not be allowed to enter this room.