Modal Verbs for Obligation and Volition

This page covers modal verbs used to express obligation, requests, and desires in English.

Expressing Obligation

The following modal verbs are used for expressing obligation:

• Must (for strong obligation)
• Have to (for external obligation)
• Let's (for first-person plural imperatives)
• Shall (for questions with first-person singular and plural)

Examples:

• You must be quiet during the lesson.
• You mustn't talk during the test.
• Must I finish this work?
• The teacher said that you have to read this book for next week.
• Let's go to the cinema.
• Shall we go to the restaurant?

Definition: Must expresses a strong personal or moral obligation, while have to often indicates an external obligation or requirement.

Expressing Volition

To express willingness or desire, the following modal verbs are used:

• Will (and would for conditional statements)
• Want

Examples:

• I want to help you.
• I don't want to stay at home.
• Do you want a cup of coffee?
• Would you like...?
• Will you have...?

Highlight: The differenza tra may e might and the differenza tra can e may lies in their level of formality and the degree of possibility they express.

Example: "May I come in?" is more formal than "Can I come in?" while "Might I suggest..." implies a more tentative suggestion than "May I suggest..."