Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using verbs to indicate obligation | page 1 of 5 |
Introduction
Obligation typically involves functions such as
giving commands, making requests, offering advice, and granting permission 
. Speakers
are able to indicate obligation in a number of ways 
.
Note that the structure chosen to express obligation will be motivated by such things
as register 
and the degree of closeness a speaker wishes to establish with the hearer.
A speaker is able to use a verb in active voice to make the source of obligation explicit, eg I order you to stay here. This is one way in which a speaker is able to assert authority. In contrast, a speaker can use a verb in passive voice to transfer the focus to the hearer, and to conceal the source of obligation, eg You are not allowed to leave. Verbs used in active voice are more likely to be used in face to face situations, whereas verbs in passive voice can be used to create an impersonal, even formal effect and to increase the social distance between speaker and hearer or writer and reader.
This file gives details of the ways that verbs and verb
groups can be used to issue
commands, make requests, offer advice and grant permission.
You may either read through the file page by page or jump to a specific page by clicking on one of the choices below.
Introduction
Degrees of obligation
