Obligation/Necessity

Obligation/Necessity

Some expressions commonly used to express obligations are as follows:

·         I must try it again.

·         Do  you have to go now? Yes, I do.

·         I have to keep it.

·         You have to come on time.

·         It is necessary for us to be there.

But, if you think it is not a necessary thing, you can say:

·         You don’t have to go now.

·         He doesn’t have to do it.

·         You don’t need to go to school because it’s a holiday.

·         It is not necessary for us to go now.

1. Positive Obligations

1. S +must+verb

            Example: I must save my money.

2. S+have/has to+verb

     Examples:         You have to come on time.

                                He has to meet the manager at 7 a.m.

3. S+need to+verb

     Examples: I need to visit the landslide victims.

                        He needs to look at the map.

2. Negative Obligations

S+must not+ verb

Example: You must not smoke here.

3. No Obligation

1.       S+don’t have+verb

Example: You don’t have to go to school because it’s a holiday.

2.       S+don’t need to+verb

Example: You don’t need to do it.

4. Past Obligation

S+had to+verb

Example: I had to take part in the meeting last night.

Note:

Ø  Must is stronger than have to and indicates urgency or stresses importance e.g.: They have to attend the Flag Ceremony at 7 a.m.                   The leader must be a model. Ø  do not have to = lack of necessity       e.g.: She doesn’t have to work overtime if she can finish her work now. Ø  must not = prohibition                                                                You mustn’t tell anyone what I said.