Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using modal verbs to indicate obligation | page 4 of 5 |
Indicating suggested obligation
With suggested obligation, the person referred to (often the hearer) has more choice. This can be glossed as advice and hints.
Here is a list of modals which are typically used to offer advice and hints:
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It is in Broadbent's little book "In Defence of Empirical Psychology", a book which I really think you ought to read simply as part of your general psychological education. (Bank of English)
Anyone who wants to be President should have his head examined.
(Averell Harriman)
Note that in certain contexts, modals such as must and cannot which normally suggest strong obligation, can be used to indicate suggested obligation:
You must always keep your defences strong so that you are prepared for any situation. (Microconcord Corpus B)
In cases like this where the speaker seems to be giving advice, the modal must could easily be substituted for the weaker modal should.
Introduction
Indicating suggested obligation
