5
votes
What is the difference between "to be" and "must/need/should be"?
It is a very General question, but here is a starting point, in very general terms:
Use "to be" when that is what the future holds, according to the current situation.
For example:
OK: &...
- 4,731
2
votes
How do we distinguish that "shall" means obligation or future?
When I was at school, my English teacher taught the use of shall and will. He would have been at school and university around the time Keynes was writing.
For simple future, the first person singular ...
- 101k
1
vote
What is the difference between "to be" and "must/need/should be"?
In fact, the modals "must" and "should" can be used in the definition of this verb form ; it is considered to be an auxiliary.
(OALD) 5 be to do something used to say what must ...
- 19.3k
1
vote
Modals of obligation in the past
"Have to go", in any tense, will be interpreted with the sense of "have to" = "obliged to". So "You needn't have to go" is very unlikely to occur, as it means "you are not obliged to be obliged to go"....
- 76.6k
1
vote
"Should" vs "have to"
Should - it will be good if you do that.
Have - it will be bad if you don't do that.
I think should implies that the person has more choice in the matter.
- 21
1
vote
Checking back instructions and modal verbs
Modal verbs have many usages, and mastering them takes many years.
(2) For the individual who has been asked to read a passage aloud, modal choice is governed among native speakers by the desire not ...
- 80.6k
1
vote
Accepted
Which is the right one: I have to prepare or I have to be prepared
Given the sample context I would say:
Before the exam you have to prepare for it.
During the exam you have to be prepared in order to get a good score.
I have to prepare for the exam because in order ...
1
vote
Accepted
What is meant by "Would you be happy to put a no obligation visual together for me?"
It probably means that the client would like you to produce the 'visual' (presumably part of the work that you offer), but he does not wish, at this stage, to enter into any formal agreement. That is, ...
- 44
Only top scored, non community-wiki answers of a minimum length are eligible