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..."

Modal Verbs in English

Modal verbs in English correspond to the Italian verbs for "can," "want," and "must." These versatile auxiliaries play a crucial role in expressing various shades of meaning in English sentences.

Key characteristics of modal verbs:

• They are always followed by the infinitive without "to"
• No "s" is added for third-person singular subjects
• Negatives are formed by adding "not" after the modal
• In questions, the modal verb comes before the subject

Highlight: Modal verbs are essential for expressing ability, possibility, permission, and obligation in English.

Expressing Ability and Permission

The modal verbs "can" (informal) and "may" (formal) are used to express ability and permission.

Examples:

• You can go to the cinema with Luca.
• You can't go out today.
• Can I go to the toilet, please?

Vocabulary: Can is used for informal situations, while may is more formal.

Example: "May I borrow your pen?" is more polite than "Can I borrow your pen?"