1. Obligation, permission & ability
MODAL VERBS & PHRASES
Obligation, permission & ability

2. STRONG OBLIGATION PRESENT Have to/have got to Must Need to
Am obliged to
Am required to
PAST
Had to/had got to
___
Needed to
Was obliged to
Was required to

3. MILD OBLIGATION PRESENT Should Ought to Am supposed to PAST
Should have
Ought to have
Was supposed to

4. LACK OF OBLIGATION PRESENT Don’t have to Don’t need to Needn’t
Am not obliged to
Am not required to
PAST
Didn’t have to
Didn’t need to
Needn’t have
Wasn’t obliged to
Wasn’t required to

5. PROHIBITION PRESENT Mustn’t Can’t Oughtn’t Shouldn’t
Am not supposed to
Am not allowed to
PAST
___
Couldn’t
Oughtn’t to have
Shouldn’t have
Wasn’t supposed to
Wasn’t allowed to

6. PERMISSION PRESENT Can Am allowed to may PAST Could Was allowed to
might

7. ABILITY PRESENT Can Am able to Manage to PAST Could Was able to
Managed to