EXPRESANDO OBLIGACION

Observa las siguientes oraciones:

-  We have to know daily what the prices are.

   Tenemos que conocer a diario cuáles son los precios.
-  Every day Robinson has to fax his opinion on the politics.
   Todos los días Robinson tiene que faxear su opinión sobre la política.

En ambos ejemplos el verbo modal have to se usa para expresar una

obligación. Pero no todos los niveles de obligación tienen la misma intensidad.
Para expresar diferentes Grados de Obligación, puedes utilizar los siguientes
verbos modales:

OBLIGACION OBLIGACION MODERADA AUSENCIA DE OBLIGACION

o NECESIDAD o CONSEJO o NECESIDAD

have to should / shouldn't don't have to

must / mustn't ought to needn't
need to   don't need to

Es importante destacar que habitualmente existe una marcada diferencia

entre must y have to (que los hispanohablantes suelen no tener en cuenta):
a) MUST se usa para hablar acerca de lo que nosotros consideramos que es
importante:

I must finish this today. (I would like to start working on the new project

tomorrow)
Debo terminar esto hoy. (Me gustaría comenzar a trabajar en el nuevo 
proyecto mañana).

b) HAVE TO se usa preferentemente para hablar acerca de una obligación

impuesta desde afuera, externa a nosotros.

I have to attend a meeting. (The boss has asked me to attend the meeting).

Tengo que asistir a una reunión. (El jefe me pidió que asistiese a la reunión).

Finalmente, observa ahora los diferentes significados que tienen las formas
negativas de must y have to:
a) Usamos MUSTN'T para indicar que es importante no hacer algo, por
ejemplo, por estar prohibido:

 You mustn't tell Monica about this. (Don't tell her)

 No debes comentarle a Mónica acerca de esto. (No le comentes).

b) Usamos DON'T HAVE TO para indicar que no hay obligación de hacer

algo, es decir, puedes hacerlo si lo deseas, pero no es necesario:

You don't have to tell Lisa. (You can tell her if you want to, but it isn't
necessary)
No tienes que comentárselo a Lisa. (Puedes comentárselo si lo deseas, pero
no es necesario).

Languages
 English as a Second Language
o Grammar
o Basics
o Pronunciation & Conversation
o Vocabulary
o Writing Skills
o Reading Comprehension
o Business English
o Resources for Teachers
 Spanish
 French
 German
 Italian
 Japanese
 Mandarin
 English Grammar
by Kenneth Beare
Updated April 05, 2017

Listed below are examples and uses of modal verbs of probability. Modal verbs
of probability are used to express an opinion of the speaker based on
information that the speaker has. Example: He must be at work, it's 10
o'clock. In this case, the speaker is 100 % sure that the person is at work based
on the speaker's knowledge that the person in question usually works at during
the day.

Must 

Use 'must' plus the verb when you are 100% (or almost 100%) sure that
something is the case.

 
Present = must + verb (do)

They must be in Spain by now. They told me they were going last week.
Jack must think I'm crazy because I think grammar is easy!

Past = must have + past participle (done)

Anna is smiling. She must have done well on the test.

Alice must have asked for some help on the test because she got an A.

Might / May

Use 'might' or 'may' to express an opinion that you think has a good possibility
of being true.

Present = might / may + verb (do)

She might come this evening, but she also had some work to do.
David may invite Jessica to the match. I know he really likes her.

Past = might / may + have + past participle (done)

Jack might have gone to France for her vacation. I think he wanted to practice
French this summer. 

Could

Use 'could' to express a possibility which is one of many. This form is not as

strong as 'might' or 'may'. It is just one of a number of possibilities.

Present = could + verb (do)

Jane could be at work, or she could be at home. I'm not sure.

We could hire that company or the other. It doesn't really matter. 

Past = could have + past participle (done)

Peter could have arrived late. I know he missed the bus.

Alice was tired. She could have stayed at home today, or she might have gone
to work. 

Can't / Couldn't 

Use 'can't' to express an opinion that you are 100% sure is NOT true. We use
'must be' or 'must have been' if we're sure in a positive sense, but 'can't be' or
'can't have been/couldn't have been' if we are sure in a negative sense. Note that
the past form remains 'can't have done' in British English, but changes to
'couldn't have done' in American English.

Present = Can't + verb (do)

You can't be serious! I'm not going to loan you $1 million dollars!
Peter can't like that show. He doesn't enjoy comedy. 

Past = Can't / Couldn't + have + past participle (done)

They can't have worked until late because they were on time for the meeting.
She couldn't have believed that story. She knows he's a liar!