13.3. Grammar. Verbs for necessity and obligation.

Now look at the dialogue between two typical English people. Transform their sentences, changing the idea to include one of these modal verbs. Got to or need to. A lot of these sentences will need complete restructuring.

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON ONE: ‘It’s essential in my opinion to bath regularly.’ ‘You’ve got to bath regularly.’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON TWO: ‘Is it necessary for me to take a bath? I’ve only just had one, about three months ago.’ ‘Do I need to take a bath?’ or ‘Have I got to take a bath?’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON ONE: ‘No, I don’t think it’ll be necessary. What about me? Is it important for me to take a shower? I haven’t had one in five months.’ ‘No, I don’t think I need to.’ or ‘No, I think I needn’t.’ ‘Do I need to take a shower?’ ‘Need I take a shower?’ or ‘Have I got to take a shower?’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON TWO: ‘I don’t want to be the one to tell you, but it is extremely important that you bath yourself soon. You smell like I look! ‘You’ve got to bath yourself soon.’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON ONE: ‘That bad! Huh? I really must start to think about personal hygiene. ‘I really need to think about personal hygiene.’ or ‘I’ve really got to think about personal hygiene.’ It’s just that when it’s winter, and it’s cold, it’s not as necessary to worry about smelling.’ ‘I don’t need to worry about smelling.’ or ‘You needn’t worry about smelling.’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON TWO: ‘It’s just that it is important for you to get used to the water in the public fountain. ‘You’ve got to get used to the water  in the public fountain.’ Why is it necessary that it is always so cold?’ ‘Why does it need to always be so cold?’ or ‘Why need it always be so cold?’ or ‘Why has it always got to be so cold?’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON ONE: ‘These people take never take homeless people into consideration. It is necessary that the government does something now. Hot water for all, I say!’ ‘The government needs to do something now.’

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON TWO: ‘Yes Mary, you’re absolutely right!’  

TYPICAL ENGLISHPERSON ONE: ‘C’mon Doris, it is important that we clean ourselves up, we might meet a couple of millionaires today!’ ‘C’mon Doris, we’ve got to clean ourselves up, we might meet a couple of millionaires today!’