- We have to know daily what the prices
are. - Every day he has to fax his opinion on
the European market.
In both these examples, the modal verb have to
is used to express an obligation. The following modal verbs can be used
to express varying degrees of obligation:
OBLIGATION
or NECESSITY
MILD OBLIGATION
or ADVICE
ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION
or NECESSITY
have to
should
/ shouldn't
don't have to
must / mustn't
ought
to
needn't
need to
don't need to
Note that there is sometimes a difference between
must and have to:
a) MUST is used to talk about what we
personally consider to be important:
- /must finish this
today. (I would like to start working on thenew project tomorrow)
b) HAVE TO is used to talk about an obligation
that is imposed from outside:
- I have to attend a meeting. (The boss has asked me to attend ameeting)
Note also that the negative forms of must and
haveto have two different meanings:
a) We use MUSTN'T to indicate that it is
important not to do something, for example, because it is
forbidden:
- You mustn't tell her. (Don't tell her)
b) We use DON'T HAVE TO to indicate that there
is no obligation to do something, for example, you can do it if
you want to, but it is not necessary:
- You don't have to tell her.
(You can tell her if you want
to, butit isn't necessary)
STEP 5
Grammar: Activity
with Answer
Below you will find a list of advice to clothes exporters
on how best to approach the German retail market. Read each piece of
advice and then choose the best modal verb alternative
from the menus.
ANSWERS
DOING BUSINESS IN GERMANY
1.
Buyers in the German retail trade are
really famous for their professionalism. They have a reputation for
being demanding, but they are fair with people who are as professional
as they are.
When dealing with the Germans you be professional.
2.
Avoid turning up unexpectedly for
meetings with German buyers. It is always better to arrange an advance
appointment, preferably by telephone.
You arrange
appointments with German buyers in advance.
3.
German buyers are constantly looking
for collections with a strong profile: it is not the size of the
collection that counts. On the contrary, the more compact the collection,
the more it will attract the buyer's attention.
You present a big
collection, but it have character.
4.
The quality of your product is
extremely important. This is what a German buyer will be most interested
in.
The quality of your product be high.
5.
German buyers tend to give precise
delivery dates, for example, 25 August, 2006. That is the date for
delivery, not the day before and not the day after. Good delivery
performance is therefore essential.
You respect delivery
deadlines.
6.
A letter of credit is a convenient and
secure way of arranging for payment, but it is by no means the only
method.
