MIGHT
It isn't common in American English.We can use might to talk about:
- possibility.
- make suggestions or requests.
- and often in conditional sentences.
Modal
Use
|
Positive Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future |
Negative Forms
1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future |
You can
also use:
|
must
certainty |
1. That must be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair.
2. That must have been
the right restaurant. There are no other restaurants on this street.
3. NO
FUTURE FORM
|
1. That must not be Jerry. He is supposed to have red hair.
2. That must not have
been the right restaurant. I guess there is another one around here
somewhere.
3. NO
FUTURE FORM
|
have to
|
must
not
prohibition |
You must not swim in that river. It's full of crocodiles.
You must not forget to
take your malaria medication while your are in the tropics.
Prohibition usually refer
to the near future.
|
||
must
strong recommendation
(Americans
prefer the form "should.") |
1. You must take some time off and get some rest.
2. SHIFT TO
"SHOULD"
You should have taken some time off last week to get some rest.
3. SHIFT TO
"SHOULD"
You should take some time off next week to get some rest. |
1. You mustn't drink so much. It's not good for your health.
2. SHIFT TO
"SHOULD"
You shouldn't have drunk so much. That caused the accident.
3. SHIFT TO
"SHOULD"
You shouldn't drink at the party. You are going to be the designated driver. |
should
|
must
necessity
(Americans
prefer the form "have to.") |
1. You must have a permit to enter the national park.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE
TO"
We had to have a permit to enter the park.
3. We must get a permit
to enter the park next week.
|
1. SHIFT TO "HAVE TO"
We don't have to get a permit to enter the national park.
2. SHIFT TO "HAVE
TO"
We didn't have to get a permit to enter the national park.
3. SHIFT TO "HAVE
TO"
We won't have to get a permit to enter the national park. |
have to
|
REMEMBER: "Must
not" vs. "Do not have to"
"Must not" suggests that you are prohibited from doing something. "Do not have to" suggests that someone is not required to do something. |
| Modal Use | Positive Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future |
Negative Forms 1. = Present 2. = Past 3. = Future |
You can also use: |
| should recommendation, advisability |
1. People with high cholesterol should eat low-fat foods.
2. Frank should have eaten low-fat foods. That might have prevented his heart attack. 3. You really should start eating better. |
1. Sarah shouldn't smoke so much. It's not good for her health.
2. Sarah shouldn't have smoked so much. That's what caused her health problems. 3. Sarah shouldn't smoke when she visits Martha next week. Martha hates when people smoke in her house. |
ought to |
| should obligation |
I should be at work before 9:00.
We should return the video before the video rental store closes. "Should" can also express something between recommendation and obligation. "Be supposed to" expresses a similar idea and can easily be used in the past or in negative forms. |
NO NEGATIVE FORMS | be supposed to |
| should expectation |
1. Susan should be in New York by now.
2. Susan should have arrived in New York last week. Let's call her and see what she is up to. 3. Susan should be in New York by next week. Her new job starts on Monday. |
1. Susan shouldn't be in New York yet.
2. Susan shouldn't have arrived in New York until yesterday. 3. Susan shouldn't arrive in New York until next week. |
ought to, be supposed to |