Lesson focus
Obligation, permission, willingness, refusal, expectation and formal meanings of modal and semi-modal structures
Advanced aim: Use modal and semi-modal choices to encode source of obligation, willingness, refusal, formal authority and expected norms.
Internal obligation
Must often presents obligation as coming from the speaker, institution or rule being emphasised.
- Example: All confidential material must remain on the secure server.
- In another context: Alternative case study: All confidential material must remain on the secure server.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
External necessity
Have to commonly presents necessity as imposed by circumstances or external rules.
- Example: We have to submit the application through the online portal.
- In another context: Regional example: We have to submit the application through the online portal.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
No necessity
Needn't means there is no obligation to do something.
- Example: You needn't attend the briefing if you've already completed the training.
- In another context: Separate scenario: You needn't attend the briefing if you've already completed the training.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Formal legal shall
Shall can express obligations or requirements in legal and contractual language.
- Example: The tenant shall notify the landlord of any structural damage.
- In another context: Follow-up case: The tenant shall notify the landlord of any structural damage.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Willingness
Will can express willingness or readiness rather than simple futurity.
- Example: I'll help with the presentation if you handle the data section.
- In another context: I'll help with the presentation if you handle the activity logs section.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Refusal
Won't can describe refusal by a person or even failure of a thing to operate as expected.
- Example: The printer won't connect to the network no matter what I try.
- In another context: Regional example: The printer won't connect to the network no matter what I try.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Typical behaviour
Will can describe characteristic or predictable behaviour, sometimes with mild criticism.
- Example: He will leave everything until the last minute and then complain about the pressure.
- In another context: Separate scenario: He will leave everything until the last minute and then complain about the pressure.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Past refusal
Wouldn't can describe repeated refusal or unwillingness in the past.
- Example: The old system wouldn't recognise files created on newer devices.
- In another context: Follow-up case: The old system wouldn't recognise files created on newer devices.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Formal instruction with be to
Be to + infinitive is used for formal instructions, arrangements and official expectations.
- Example: Visitors are to report to reception before entering the laboratory.
- In another context: Alternative case study: Visitors are to report to reception before entering the laboratory.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
Expected norm
Should can express what is expected to happen under normal conditions.
- Example: The update should take no more than ten minutes to install.
- In another context: Regional example: The update should take no more than ten minutes to install.
C1 focus: Choose this form for the intended meaning and discourse effect; nearby alternatives may be grammatical but can change viewpoint, scope, time reference or register.
C1 takeaway
Do not ask only “Which form is grammatically possible?” Ask what the speaker is presenting as background or foreground, completed or ongoing, certain or tentative, generic or specific, neutral or emphatic. Advanced grammar is the control of those choices.
Obligation, permission, willingness, refusal, expectation and formal meanings of modal and semi-modal structures
Regional example: All confidential material _____ on the secure server.
Separate scenario: We _____ the application through the online portal.
Follow-up case: You _____ the briefing if you've already completed the training.
Alternative case study: The tenant _____ the landlord of any structural damage.
_____ with the presentation if you handle the source files section.
Separate scenario: The printer _____ to the network no matter what I try.
Follow-up case: He _____ everything until the last minute and then complain about the pressure.
Alternative case study: The old system _____ files created on newer devices.
Regional example: Visitors _____ to reception before entering the laboratory.
Separate scenario: The update _____ no more than ten minutes to install.
Obligation, permission, willingness, refusal, expectation and formal meanings of modal and semi-modal structures
Separate scenario: All confidential material _____ on the secure server.
Follow-up case: We _____ the application through the online portal.
Alternative case study: You _____ the briefing if you've already completed the training.
Regional example: The tenant _____ the landlord of any structural damage.
_____ with the presentation if you handle the transaction records section.
Follow-up case: The printer _____ to the network no matter what I try.
Alternative case study: He _____ everything until the last minute and then complain about the pressure.
Regional example: The old system _____ files created on newer devices.
Separate scenario: Visitors _____ to reception before entering the laboratory.
Follow-up case: The update _____ no more than ten minutes to install.
Obligation, permission, willingness, refusal, expectation and formal meanings of modal and semi-modal structures
Follow-up case: All confidential material must remain on the secure server.
Alternative case study: We have to submit the application through the online portal.
Regional example: You needn't attend the briefing if you've already completed the training.
Separate scenario: The tenant shall notify the landlord of any structural damage.
I'll help with the presentation if you handle the survey records section.
Alternative case study: The printer won't connect to the network no matter what I try.
Regional example: He will leave everything until the last minute and then complain about the pressure.
Separate scenario: The old system wouldn't recognise files created on newer devices.
Follow-up case: Visitors are to report to reception before entering the laboratory.
Alternative case study: The update should take no more than ten minutes to install.