Business - Modal Verbs for Necessity

How can we sound less direct? And what expressions are very direct?

g

h

f

e

d

c

b

a

Questions forms

Have (got) to

Need to

Imperatives

'd better

Can

Must

Might want to

Which one is more frequent?

• Must

• Have to

Which modal verb can sound impolite or unfriendly?

• Have (got) to

• Need to

• Must

• Should

In business, which pronoun is often used instead of "you" when telling someone else to do something to sound more friendly and less direct?

• I

• We

• They

• He

Which phrase would you use to sound more polite?

• Would you please send me the updated sales report by the end of the day?

• You must send me the updated sales report by the end of the day.

• You need to let me know when Mr. Thompson arrives.

When is it more adequate to use the imperative?

Example: Arrive on time.

• Spoken English.

• Written instructions.