Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using semi-modal verbs to indicate obligation | page 5 of 5 |
Indicating low obligation
With low obligation, the person referred to (often the hearer) has the most choice. This can be glossed as permission.
Don't have to, don't need to, haven't got to, and needn't are semi-modals typically used to grant permission (which may or may not have been requested in the first place):
No, of course you don't have to go if you don't want to.
It's a very easy-going bookshop. You can just go in and lounge around and you don't need to buy anything. (Bank of English)
Introduction
Indicating low obligation
