Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using modal verbs to indicate obligation | page 3 of 5 |
Indicating strong obligation
With strong obligation, the person referred to (often the hearer) has little or no
choice. Note that with strong obligation, a distinction can be made between requirement
and necessity 
.
Here is a list of modals which are typically used to indicate requirement:
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In the following examples, the hearer is obliged to do as the speaker orders/requests by virtue of the speaker's authority as a parent or teacher:
You will stop that nonsense at once! (Stern Parent)
What you must do, as a piece of homework, is to use your slide rule and do Exercises 47 and 48. (Bank of English)
Here is a list of modals which are typically used to indicate necessity:
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In the following examples, the circumstances of the situation dictate the necessary action:
All answers must be written on the answer sheet provided. (Exam rubric)
You can't hunt alligator in daylight. You must use a flashlight to see their eyes glowing among the reeds. (Bank of English)
Depending on the context of the situation an utterance might be interpreted in a number of ways, and modals such as must and cannot which normally suggest strong obligation, can be used to indicate suggested obligation. Consider this example where a lecturer is addressing a class of undergraduate students:
If you get confused you must come and see me quickly about it, because this is important. (Bank of English)
In this case the speaker seems to be giving advice, as opposed to indicating strong obligation. Note that the modal must could easily be substituted for the weaker modal should.
Introduction
Indicating strong obligation
