Indicating obligation and willingness
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Using 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. This can be glossed as requirement. 
Here is a list of verbs which are typically used to indicate requirement, conveying the basic meaning of You must ...
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I want you to do the following. Listen carefully Reza so you know what to do. John Lambourn! I want you to turn to the front of the atlas. (Bank of English)
The Governor-General and Commander-in Chief in and over New Zealand requests and requires in the Name of Her Majesty the Queen all those whom it may concern to allow the bearer to pass freely without let or hindrance and to afford the bearer such assistance and protection as may be necessary. (New Zealand Passport)
The owner of Chun Cheong Roasted Meat in Wan Tsui Estate Market in Chai Wan said if she put dishes like barbecued pork and roasted duck behind display windows as required by the USD she would lose at least 50 per cent of business. (SCMP 5/9/92)
My dear fellow, I insist that you have a drink with me!
(Microconcord Corpus A)
Note that some verbs can be used in both passive and active voice:
You are needed to help with the planning.
I need you to help with the planning.
The basic meaning here is: "You must help with the planning." If a speaker uses passive voice, the effect is to disassociate himself from responsibility; with active voice, the effect is more personal.
The verbs in the following list are related to the idea of permission, in the sense
that permission is denied; however, they belong in the category of strong obligation
because the hearer has no choice, ie if you are prohibited from doing something you
must not do it.
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"Injunction" - to forbid him to do what he has promised not to do or what he has no right to do. (Microconcord Corpus B)
Swimming at this beach is strictly forbidden. (Public Notice)
Just after 11 pm, two men arrived at her office to purchase tickets. The request was turned down by counter staff.
Introduction
Indicating strong obligation
