Modals of Necessity: Must, Have got to, Have to (2024)

FAQs

What are the modals of necessity need to? ›

Let's read about how to express necessity or obligation. The modal verbs “must,” “have to” and “have got to” show that something is not optional; it is necessary. Must is the strongest and most serious modal verb of the three and is most common in writing. It is unusual to use “must” in questions.

We use have to / must / should + infinitive to talk about obligation, things that are necessary to do, or to give advice about things that are a good idea to do. Must and have to are both used for obligation and are often quite similar. They are both followed by the infinitive. I must go now.

A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to express: ability, possibility, permission or obligation. Modal phrases (or semi-modals) are used to express the same things as modals, but are a combination of auxiliary verbs and the preposition to.

Have got to and have to mean the same. Have got to is more informal. We use have (got) to here to refer to both verbs.

'Must' is used to talk about what the speaker or listener wants, while 'have (got) to' is used to talk about external obligations, such as rules, deadlines, etc. You must apply for a visa. You have to apply for a visa to be able to enter the country.

Both 'must' and 'need' are used to talk about a sense of necessity or obligation. However, 'must' is used to express a strong sense of obligation or necessity. It suggests that something is required or necessary and that there is no other option.

Must comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): She must have lots of friends. Must can't be used with another modal verb. This must be your sister.

Need is a semi-modal verb because in some ways it is like a modal verb and in other ways like a main verb. We use need mostly in the negative form to indicate that there is no obligation or necessity to do something: You needn't take off your shoes.

Modal auxiliary verbs include: can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, and would. These verbs - which never change forms the way most other verbs do - indicate possibility, capability, necessity, or willingness. To show past tense, we add 'have' and a past participle to the modal auxiliary verb.

What is the rule of modals? ›

Modal verbs are used along with a main verb to indicate ability, necessity, possibility, and permission. In sentences containing modal verbs, the main verb typically takes the infinitive form. Modal verbs come before main verbs and never change form. Examples: How to use modal verbs I might walk to work today.

Common examples of modal verbs include can, should, and must. Because they're a type of auxiliary verb (helper verb), they're used alongside the infinitive form of the main verb of a sentence.

Modal verbs are helping verbs that are used along with main verbs to represent the ability, possibility and probability of a subject to do an action and emphasise the necessity of an action.

Types and Examples of Auxiliaries and Modal Verbs

There are twelve words: be, do, have, can, may, shall, will, must, ought, used (to), need, dare. Example: She is wearing a blue dress. They were singing the national anthem.

I shall argue that there are three main forms of necessity—the metaphysical, the natural, and the normative—and that none of them is reducible to the others or to any other form of necessity.

Modal verbs in English grammar express the ability, permission, obligation, possibility, etc. Modal verbs only have one form, meaning that they are used in simple present and don't have past simple and past participle forms.

Examples of necessity in a Sentence

Sunscreen is an absolute necessity for the beach. food, clothes, and other basic necessities Getting plenty of rest is a necessity. Without a car, living close to work is a necessity. All we took with us on our hiking trip were the bare necessities.