M O D A L V ER B S ( m o d if y t h e int e nt io n )

E X P R ES S M O D E , H A B I LI TY, PO S I BI LI TY,
N E C ES IT Y O R O T H ER C O N D I TI O N

C A N , C O U LD , M AY, M I G H T, WI LL,
SH A LL, SH O U LD , O U G H T TO , M U ST,
H AV E TO ( V ER B A N D M O D A L) , W O U L D

Have to / Don´t have to

Must / Must not (musn´t)

Can´t
 Have to
Is a regular verb, therefore is variable
We can use it in other tenses
Needs auxiliaries
• Is an external obligation (impersonal)
• For rules and obligations from a third person or
circumstance
• External (comes from someone or something)
• Examples:
You have to show your passport at passport control
She has to get a visa if you want to work in the USA
Jenny has to do her homework everyday
Must
Is invariable
Is not conjugated
Followed by a verb in simple form
• Give orders, express a moral obligation (expresses what
the speaker thinks is necessary) of the speaker or who
orders
• Obligation: urgent & expressed by the speaker
• Compromise with oneself or someone else.
• Must + verb (base form, bare form)
Examples: I must go to bed earlier
I must talk to you about the new project
Jenny must do homework (She doesn´t want to disappoint
her parents)
• Possibility
I feel awful, I must be getting sick

• Deduction
He arrived late, he must be tired
Look at that Porsche, mut be expensive
My workmate arrived late this morning, the boss must be angry

• Suggestions or recommendations
Listen, you must talk to your friend he´s upset.
We must pay attention

• Rules & written instructions (official forms)

I must answer these mails, they´ve been sitting in my inbox for weeks

Cases of must
Obligation, possibility, deduction, suggestions, rules and written instructions.
 Don´t have to Must not (mustn´t)

 We are not forced to do something or is not an  Is used for things that we can´t do
obligation.
Is a forbidden action, is not allowed.
 Or even if we don´t have the obligation, we can do it
Examples:
if we want.
In the army you mustn´t go out after 9
Examples:
At work you mustn´t drink alcohol
Bill doesn´t have to work today (is Saturday but he
wants to go) You mustn´t fish here
We don´t have to wear formal on Fridays at work You don´t have to fish there
 CAN´T or MUSTN´T ?
If they mean the same how I can use them correctly?

You are unable to do

something physically and You can´t use your hands
Can't most of the time people or mime or write anything
use it in speaking. down

Generally, has You mustn´t do something

Mustn’t consequences for the or something bad might
action. happen.
You can´t take photos in here / You mustn´t take pictures in here = unable to do something

You´ve been sleeping all day you mustn´t be surprised if my mom punishes you (certain)
What? You´ve just eaten, You can´t be hungry now (is not possible)

You can´t park here

You mustn´t park her

CAN´T OR MUSN´T
Complete with must, mustn't or have to, don´t have to.

1. You _______ apologize; it isn't necessary.

2. You _______  tell the boss what happened, or he'll fire you.
3. I  __________ wear a tie; I do it because I like wearing ties.
4. You ________  smoke in here; smoking is not allowed.
5. I _______ be late. It's the most important meeting of the year.
6. You _______  go now; you can stay a bit longer.
7. Visitors to the zoo _________ feed the animals.
8. You _______  drive so fast; we have a lot of time.
9. We ______  cook more; there's enough food.
10. You ______ put salt in her food; the doctor said she can't eat salt.
1You don´t have to apologize; it isn't necessary.
➪ The sentence means that you don't need to apologize, there is no obligation. We use don't have to when we can do something, but it isn't necessary.

2You mustn´t tell the boss what happened, or he'll fire you.
➪ We use mustn't because it's necessary that you don't tell the boss; you can't do it.

3I don´t have to wear a tie; I do it because I like wearing ties.

➪ We say don't have to because I don't need to wear a tie, there is no obligation.

4You mustn’t smoke in here; smoking is not allowed.

➪ We use mustn't because it is a prohibition.

5I mustn’t be late. It's the most important meeting of the year.

➪ We use mustn’t because it’s necessary for me not to be late.

6You don't have to go now; you can stay a bit longer.

➪ We use don't have to because it's not necessary for you to go, there's no obligation.

7Visitors to the zoo mustn't feed the animals.

Correct answer: ➪ We use mustn't because it's a prohibition.

8You don't have to drive so fast; we have a lot of time.

Correct answer: ➪ We use don't have to because the sentence says that you can drive fast, but it's not necessary because we have time.

9We don't have to cook more; there's enough food.

Correct answer: ➪ We use don't have to because we can cook more but it's not necessary; there is no obligation.

10You mustn´t put salt in her food; the doctor said she can't eat salt.
➪ We use mustn't because she can't eat salt; it's a prohibition.