Modals: permission and
obligation
Look at these examples to see how can, can't, must, mustn't, have
to and don’t have to are used.
You can put your shoes and coat over there.
You can't leave your bike there.
I must call the electrician and get that light fixed.
You mustn't worry about me. I'll be fine.
You have to have a licence to drive a car.
You don't have to have a licence to cycle on the roads.
Grammar explanation
We often use verbs with modal meanings to talk about permission and
obligation.
Permission
can
We often use can to ask for and give permission.
Can I sit here?
You can use my car if you like.
Can I make a suggestion?
could
We also use could to ask for permission (but not to give it). Could is
more formal and polite than can.
Could I ask you something?
Could I interrupt?
Could I borrow your pen for a moment, please?
May/might
May is the most formal way to ask for and give permission.
May I see your passport, please?
Customers may request a refund within a period of 30 days.
These pages may be photocopied for classroom use.
Prohibition
We use can't and mustn't to show that something is prohibited – it is
not allowed.
can't
We use can't to talk about something that is against the rules,
particularly when we didn't make the rules.
What does this sign say? Oh, we can't park here.
You can't take photos in the museum. They're really strict about it.
Sorry, we can't sell knives to under-18s.
must not/mustn't
We use must not to talk about what is not permitted. It is common on
public signs and notices informing people of rules and laws.
Visitors must not park in the staff car park.
Baggage must not be left unattended.
Guests must not make noise after 10 p.m.
We use mustn't particularly when the prohibition comes from the
speaker.
(Parent to child) You mustn't say things like that to your sister.
(Teacher to student) You mustn't be late to class.
I mustn't let that happen again.
Obligation (see unit 31)
We use have to and must to express obligation. There is a slight
difference between the way we use them.
have to
Have to shows us that the obligation comes from outside the speaker.
We have to wear a uniform when we're working in reception.
(Student to teacher) When do we have to hand in our homework?
Al has to work tomorrow so he can't come.
We sometimes call this 'external obligation'.
must
Must expresses a strong obligation or necessity. It often shows us that
the obligation comes from the speaker (or the authority that wrote the
sentence).
I must phone my dad. It's his birthday today.
(Teacher to student) You must hand in your homework on Tuesday or
you will lose ten per cent of your mark.
(Sign on a plane) Seat belts must be worn by all passengers.
Note that we don't use must to express obligation in the past. We
use have to instead.
I had to pay £85 to renew my passport last week.
No obligation
don't have to
We use don’t have to to show that there is no obligation. You can do
something if you want to but it's not compulsory.
You don't have to wear a tie in our office but some people like to dress
more formally.
You don't have to go to the bank to do a transfer. You can do it online.
You don't have to come with me, honestly. I'll be fine!
Do this exercise to test your grammar again.
[Link]
forms-will-be-going-present-continuous
