Modal verbs in English, 2 :obligation
Modal verbs of obligation :
must, have to, should and ought to
There are two types of modal verbs of obligation ; those that primarily express a firm
obligation or necessity - must and have to - and those that express a recommendation or moral
obligation - should and ought to
Firm obligation, etc. - must and have to
The verb must only exists in the simple present and present perfect forms.
While the present form can express obligation, necessity, certainty or strong probability,
thepresent perfect forms only express a strongly felt opinion or supposition.
All
Present Present perfect
persons
Affirmative must must have
Negative must not, mustn't must not have, mustn't have
If other tenses are required, the speaker or writer must use forms of the synonymous modal
verb "have to" . This modal auxiliary has all normal tenses, including progressive or continuous
forms; these are not common, but need to be used in some cases.
Present
Principal tenses Present Past Future
perfect
has to, has had to
Affirmative: had to will have to
have to have had to
does not
have to,
do not have has not had did not will not
Negative; to , to have to have to
doesn't have not had didn't won't have
have to to have to * to
don't have
to
Progressive or am having has been was will be
to
having to having to
is having to,
continuous have been were having to
are having
having to having to
to
* The form "had not to" is sometimes used, but it is generally considered to be archaic.
Got to :
In spoken English, and in the present form only, have to is often substantiated by the word got;
i.e. an alternative to I have to is I've got to.
Examples of must and have to being used to express :
a. Firm obligation or necessity
b. Certainty or strong probability.
c. Must have only : supposition
a1) You must see a doctor at once !
a2) I have to be at school tomorrow at 8 a.m. I have an exam !
a21) I've got to be at school tomorrow at .....
a3) You mustn't touch that plate, it's too hot.
a4) I had to see a doctor, because I felt very sick.
a5) I had to break the window ! I lost my key !
a6) The manager isn't here, he's had to go to Paris on urgent business.
a7) Tomorrow the President will have to open Parliament.
a8) She's having to move because she can't stand the noise.
a9) I'm having to take out this detonator very slowly, to avoid an explosion.
a10) Oh you're so kind! You didn't have to do it as well as that !
b1) He must be over eighty, he was born in 1930.
b2) If my brother's not in London, he has to be in New York.
b3) I've got all the right answers, I must be one of the winners !
b4) If I remember correctly, it has to be here.
c1) I can't find my laptop, I must have left it in the train.
c2) If they're out, they mustn't have heard the news.
Attention !
Take care to distinguish correctly between "had to" and "must have"
They had to go to London
= They were obliged to go to London
They must have gone to London.
= In my opinion, they have certainly gone to London.
Recommendation or moral obligation - should and ought to
The verb should only exists in the simple present, and present perfect forms
Forms of should
All persons Present Present perfect
Affirmative should should have
Negatve should not, shouldn't should not have, shouldn't have
The verb ought to only exists in simple present and present perfect forms
Forms of ought to
All persons Present Present perfect
Affirmative ought to ought to have
Negative ought not to, oughtn't to ought not to have, oughtn't to have
Should and ought to are more or less synonymous
Examples:
a1) You should stop smoking ( = You ought to stop smoking.)
a2) It's raining hard, the children ought to come indoors.
a3) I didn't know you were married ! You ought to have told me !
a4) If you'd wanted to succeed, you should have worked harder at school.
a5) This pullover's got holes in it, I should get a new one.
a6) This pullover's got holes in it, I ought to get a new one.
a7) That's awful ! You really oughtn't to have done that, you know !
