MINI-GRAMMAR LESSON: Modals of obligation, permission & prohibition (present & past time)

Modals of obligation, permission and prohibition (present & past time)

Permission

We use can + infinitive and is/are allowed to + infinitive to talk about permission in the present.

You can vote in Morocco when you are eighteen.
The children are allowed to watch TV until ten o'clock.

We use could + infinitive and was / were allowed to + infinitive to talk about permission in the past.

Many years ago people could smoke anywhere.
He was allowed to stay out until twelve o'clock.

Obligation

We use must + infinitive and has / have to to talk about obligation in the present.

You must arrive 30 minutes before your flight.
We have to leave soon.

We use had to + infinitive to talk about obligation in the past.

He had to pay a lot of tax last year.

No obligation / Lack of obligation

We use needn’t+ infinitive , don't /doesn't have to + infinitive and don't / doesn't need to + infinitive talk about something that is not necessary (but it is allowed).

You don't have to come if you don't want to.
I don't need to wear a tie to work.

We use didn't have to + infinitive and didn't need to + infinitive to talk about an absence of obligation in the past.

We knew the restaurant manager so we didn't have to pay for our meal.
They didn't need to get up early because it was a holiday.

Prohibition

We use can't + infinitive, mustn't + infinitive and isn't / aren't allowed to + infinitive to talk about something that is not allowed, something which is forbidden.

You can't enter Spain without a visa.
You mustn't open your papers before the exam begins.
The students aren’t 't allowed to take mobile phones to school.


We use couldn't + infinitive and wasn't/weren't allowed to + infinitive to talk about prohibition in the past.

Moroccan school children couldn't have long hair in the 1960s and 1970s.
The children were not allowed to speak.

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MINI-GRAMMAR LESSON: THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PRESENT PERFECT

THE SIMPLE PAST AND THE PRESENT PERFECT

When we talk about past actions, we can sometimes choose between the past simple and the present perfect.


We use the past simple:

• when we ask when the event happened (with when).

When did she arrive at Rabat?
When did you last see Ikrame?

• when we say when the event happened (with time expressions like yesterday, last week, one night, that indicate a finished time).

She got there two weeks ago.
He gave up his job last year.

We use the present perfect:

• when the time is not stated. The event happened in the past, but the time is not important. We often use the present perfect to talk about general experience.

Have you ever been to Dakhla?
They've visited many interesting places.

• with time expressions that do not specify the exact time (e.g. ever, never, already, yet, since, just, recently).

He has just begun his journey.
My brother has already visited six different countries.

• when we talk about actions in the past that happened in a period of time which is unfinished.
He has made a lot of friends in the last few weeks. [in the last few weeks includes present time).

Common expressions that refer to unfinished time are:
during
in the last few days / weeks / months / years
over

Some time expressions can refer to both finished time and unfinished time.

Have you done anything interesting this morning?
(= It is still the morning.)

Did you do anything interesting this morning?
(= The morning is now finished.)

Other expressions that we can use with both tenses include today, this week, this month, etc.

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MINI-GRAMMAR LESSON: THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

THE PRESENT SIMPLE AND THE PRESENT CONTINUOUS

We use the present simple:

•to talk about facts (things that are always true) and permanent situations.

He lives in a small flat.
The sun always rises in the east.

•to talk about habits and actions that happen regularly.

He drives the kids to school every day.

We use the present continuous:

•to talk about actions that are happening at the moment of speaking.

He's trying to explain a problem to them.
Look! It is raining .

•to talk about temporary situations and activities.

She's going through a lot of troubles these days.

We can sometimes use both the present simple and the present continuous. Our choice depends on how we see the action.

I live in Salé. (= I think this is permanent.)
I'm living in Salé. (= I think this is temporary.)

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