Modal Verbs for Future and Obligation

Introduction to Modal Auxiliaries

ମୋଡାଲ୍ ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟାଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଆସି ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ, ଅନୁମତି, ବାଧ୍ୟତା, ଇଚ୍ଛା ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ପ୍ରକାଶ କରନ୍ତି। ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ ପ୍ରାଥମିକ ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟାଠାରୁ ଭିନ୍ନ।

Auxiliary verbs (ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟା) are words that come before the main verb (ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା) to indicate its tense (କାଳ) or modalities of expression (ଭାବ ପ୍ରକାଶର ଧାରା) like ability, permission, compulsion (ବାଧ୍ୟତା), obligation (କର୍ତ୍ତବ୍ୟ), or desirability (ଇଚ୍ଛା)। There are two main kinds: Primary Auxiliaries (like be, have, do) and Modal Auxiliaries (like may, should, will, ought to, can, must) [[1]]. Modal auxiliaries do not usually act as main verbs and do not change with the number or person of the subject. They always have single forms for all subjects and are followed by the bare infinitive (base) form of the verb [[8]].

Modal Verbs for Future Actions

ଭବିଷ୍ୟତର କାର୍ଯ୍ୟଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରିବା ପାଇଁ ଆମେ 'shall' ଏବଂ 'will' ମୋଡାଲ୍ ବ୍ୟବହାର କରୁ। ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ ସାଧାରଣତଃ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତର ଯୋଜନା, ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା କିମ୍ବା ପୂର୍ବାନୁମାନ ଦର୍ଶାଏ।

1. Shall

The modal shall is primarily used with I or we to express plain future (ସାଧାରଣ ଭବିଷ୍ୟତ), permission (ଅନୁମତି), promise (ପ୍ରତିଜ୍ଞା), order (ଆଦେଶ), or offer (ପ୍ରସ୍ତାବ) [[2]].

• Plain Future (with I/we): We shall be back in an hour's time.
• Permission (with I): Shall I go home now?
• Promise: I shall take you out on Monday.
• Offer: Shall I give you a cup of tea?

When shall takes a subject other than I or we (e.g., you, he, she, it, they), it means a threat (ଧମକ) or compulsion (ବାଧ୍ୟତା) [[2]], [[5]].

• Compulsion/Threat: You shall write this answer before you go. You shall not use my bicycle again.

2. Will

The modal will is generally used to express plain future, willingness (ଇଚ୍ଛା), request (ଅନୁରୋଧ), or prediction (ପୂର୍ବାନୁମାନ) [[2]], [[3]].

• Plain Future: Bakul will be fourteen next week.
• Willingness/Intention: He will come in time. The road is very crowded so I will drive my car very carefully.
• Request: Will you do me a favour?
• Prediction: It will be more crowded in the evening.

When will is used with the first person (I/we), it signifies certainty (ନିଶ୍ଚିତତା) or a strong promise [[2]].

• Certainty/Promise: I will help you as far as I can. I will get you a book about road safety rules.

Modal Verbs for Obligation and Necessity

କୌଣସି କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରିବା ବାଧ୍ୟତାମୂଳକ କିମ୍ବା ଆବଶ୍ୟକ ବୋଲି ଦର୍ଶାଇବା ପାଇଁ ଆମେ 'must', 'should', 'ought to' ଏବଂ 'need to' ବ୍ୟବହାର କରୁ।

1. Must

Must indicates strong obligation or compulsion [[1]]. It means something is necessary or required.

• Compulsion/Obligation: One must develop some hobby for a welcome change in life. You must obey traffic rules.

2. Should

Should is used to express advice (ଉପଦେଶ) or desirability (ବାଞ୍ଛନୀୟତା) [[1]], [[2]]. It suggests what is right or a good idea.

• Advice/Desirability: You should take permission from my father.

3. Ought to

Ought to is similar to should and also expresses obligation or moral duty. It implies what is correct or expected [[1]], [[8]].

• Obligation/Duty: You ought to respect your parents’ views.

4. Need to

Need to implies compulsion or necessity [[3]], often used in negative or interrogative sentences [[7]].

• Compulsion/Necessity: You need to learn how to drive before you apply for a driving licence. You need not speak so loudly.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Future Action

• Original: Bakul wants to go to Nandankanan. He wants to persuade his father to take him there during the summer vacation. Bakul: Daddy, ____ we go to Nandankanan during the summer vacation? Father: It is a good idea. But I think it ____ be better if we go there in winter.
• Solution: Bakul: Daddy, shall we go to Nandankanan during the summer vacation? (Suggestion/Offer with 'we') Father: It is a good idea. But I think it will be better if we go there in winter. (Prediction/Plain future)

Example 2: Obligation

• Original: You ____ respect your elders. (Strong moral duty)
• Solution: You ought to respect your elders. (Also should is possible, but ought to emphasizes moral duty more strongly).