Rules and Laws in English

All over the world, different countries have different rules and regulations. You can drink a lot of alcohol in Ireland, but you can’t drink any alcohol in most Muslim countries. You should drive on the left of the road in some countries, but you should drive on the right in most countries. Women may wear shorts and a t-shirt in some hot countries, but they must completely cover their bodies in other hot countries.

English-speaking countries have different rules too. They also have different attitudes: some countries are strict (making sure you follow all of their rules) but other countries are relaxed.
However, all English speakers use the same language to describe laws and rules.
It is extremely important to understand this language: if you misunderstand a rule you could lose money  or miss an event. (For example, if a concert ticket says “You mustn’t arrive after 8.30pm”, what happens if you arrive at 9 o’clock?) Even worse, if you misunderstand a law you could go to jail! (For example, can you understand the sentence, “Consumption of alcohol is prohibited”?)

This blog could save your life! We’ll begin at an ELEMENTARY level, and move along to UPPER-INTERMEDIATE and ADVANCED language.

MODAL VERBS
In the first paragraph of this blog we used many modal verbs like can, should, may and must. To talk about rules and laws we also use the modal verbs mustn’t, have to and don’t have to.
Our Facebook page recently quizzed English42 fans on how to use modal verbs...

Post by English42.

[ELEMENTARY] THINGS TO REMEMBER ABOUT MODAL VERBS
1. Modal verbs don’t change when the person changes. (I can speak English; You can speak English; He/She can speak English...) 

2. A bare-infinitive verb always comes after a modal verb. (A bare-infinitive verb is a verb, without the word “to”, which is unchanged: go [not “to go”, “going” or “goes”], eat [not “to eat”, “eating” or “eats”]. So these sentences are all wrong:

a) He can to go to Italy now. (CORRECT: He can go to Italy now.)

b) You should staying at home tonight. (CORRECT: You should stay at home tonight.)

c) She must waits at the station. (CORRECT: She must wait at the train station.)

3. Each modal verb has a unique meaning. Let’s look at these now...

[ELEMENTARY] MODAL VERBS FOR RULES & LAWS

In English, we use many different modal verbs to describe laws and rules – just look at the top of this page! Some modal verbs have other meanings too:

CAN: “You can leave school at 4 o’clock.” This sentence describes a school rule. If we change the sentence to a negative, it also describes a rule: “You can’t leave the school before 4 o’clock.” Also, the two sentences have more or less the same meaning. But the sentence “He can sing” doesn’t describe a rule (it describes an ability)

SHOULD: “In Brazil, you should drive on the right of the road.” is another way to describe a law. So is the sentence, “In Brazil, you shouldn’t drive on the left of the road.” Again, the two sentences have more or less the same meaning. But the meaning is different if you say the sentence, “You should get a new job.” This is advice.

MAY NOT: “Tourists may not stay in the USA for more than 90 days.” This sentence expresses a rule. But the opposite, “Tourists may stay in the USA for under 90 days” doesn’t exactly express a rule: here, we are talking about something which you can do. The meaning changes with a sentence like, “Susan may come to the office tomorrow.” This describes a possibility.

[INTERMEDIATE] FORMAL MODAL VERBS FOR RULES & LAWS

Other modal verbs are always used for rules and laws. You will see this language in formal texts about rules/laws.

MUST & HAVE TO / HAS TO: These are both positive ways to describe a rule or law. [see NOTE1]

Basically, the message is very strong: “do this thing. If you don’t do this thing, you will be in trouble.” You often see these verbs on signs, rule-books and laws in English-speaking countries.
HAVE TO isn’t actually a modal verb. It’s different because you need to change it depending on the person. But it follows the other rules of modal verbs.

Here are some examples:

1. You must arrive at the airport one hour before you fly.
2. You have to drive slowly near schools.
3. He has to apply for a visa before he can study in the UK.
4. We must leave the hotel room before 11am.

[NOTE1: some English speakers believe that “must” is used for rules and “have to” is used for laws. This isn’t always true. But often you’ll see a sign in a school (for example) which says, “You must pay your fee before you join the course”, and you’ll often see a law which says “Drivers have to stay on the right of the road.”]

MUST NOT (MUSTN’T): This is the negative way to describe a rule or law – it is the opposite of both MUST and HAVE TO.
Basically, the message is very strong: “don’t do this thing. If you do this thing, you will be in trouble.” You often see this modal verb on signs, rule-books and laws in English-speaking countries.
Here are some examples:

1. You must not smoke on an airplane.
2. You must not murder anyone.
3. You must not drink alcohol and drive a car.4

DON’T/DOESN’T HAVE TO: This is the negative way to describe something you can do – but it isn’t a rule. It is different in meaning to the other 3 modal verbs here. Also, you don’t often see this modal verb on signs, rule-books and laws in English-speaking countries. You will hear them in conversation.

Some examples are:

1. [In a school] You don’t have to stay after 4pm. (but you can stay if you want to, and you must stay before 4pm)
2. [In an airport] You don’t have to arrive 3 hours before your flight. (but you can if you want to, and you must arrive 1 hour before your flight)
3. [In an office] He doesn’t have to work after 5pm. (but he can if he wants to, and he must work before 5pm)

This table may help you to understand these modal verbs:

DO THIS	DON'T DO THIS	YOUR CHOICE
must	mustn’t	don’t have to
have to

Look again at the Facebook quiz which we showed earlier. In the comments you will find the answers. Can you understand each answer? Do you see why some sentences are correct and others are completely incorrect?

ADJECTIVES & PASSIVES

[UPPER-INTERMEDIATE+] ADJECTIVES FOR RULES & LAWS

In a second Facebook quiz, we asked you to choose the best adjective to describe rules. Here’s the quiz:

Post by English42.

We can express rules and laws without modal verbs, by using these three words:

compulsory

prohibited

allowed

It’s important to understand the unique meaning of each adjective: you see these in government documents, in signs and in rule-books more often than you see the modal verbs.

allowed is related to the modal verbs can or may. It means, basically, that you can or may do something – but you don’t have to.
Let’s look at an annoying sign which all of us have probably seen in airports.

HOW TO USE allowed: According to this sign, you can bring liquids which are under 100ml. “Allowed” can be used in 2 ways: as an adjective, and as a passive part-participle verb...

1. (as an adjective) Liquids which are under 100ml are allowed.
OR
2. (as a passive)You are allowed to bring liquids which are under 100ml.

Let’s look at the structure of these sentences, and some other examples.

1. (as an adjective)
[noun]	[“to be”]	[adjective]	[optional information]
Liquids which are under 100ml	are	allowed.
Smoking	is	allowed	in this area.
Driving a car	is	allowed	if you have a bus driver’s license.

2. (as a passive)
[subject]	passive		[infinitive verb]	[optional information]
You	are	allowed	to bring	liquids which are under 100ml.
Students	are	allowed	to leave	after 4pm.
New EU countries	will be	allowed	to trade	with Germany.

REMEMBER!! Using “It is allowed” is not allowed.
We don’t use the structure “It is allowed to smoke.” We will use this structure with the following two words, but it’s a big mistake to use it with “allow”.

A synonym for “allowed” – a word which has the same meaning – is the word permitted. It can be used in a sentence in exactly the same 2 ways. (e.g. “Smoking is permitted in this area”, “Students are permitted to leave.”)

compulsory is related to the modal verbs can or may. It means, basically, “do this. If you don’t do this, you’ll be in trouble (or you can’t continue).”

After you have taken care of your liquids at the airport, you go through security.

What do you do next? You go through a metal detector. Before you go through, however, you must take off your shoes and remove your belt. Then you must walk through the metal detector.

HOW TO USE compulsory: So, how would English speakers describe this? There are 2 ways:

1. (as an adjective which describes the action/item) Your boarding pass is compulsory.
OR
2. (as an adjective which describes a verb) It is compulsory to remove your shoes.

Study the structure of these sentences, and some other examples.

1. (as an adjective which describes the action/item)
[noun]	[“to be”]	[adjective]	[optional information]
Your boarding pass	is	compulsory	if you want to go to the Departure gate.
Paying taxes	is	compulsory.
Driving on the right	is	compulsory	in most countries.

2. (as an adjective which describes a verb)
“It is compulsory”	[infinitive verb]	[optional/additional information]
It is compulsory	to remove	your shoes
It is compulsory	to take	off your belt.
It is compulsory	to drive	on the left in the UK and Ireland.

Some synonyms for “compulsory” are necessary and essential. These are used in a sentence in the same 2 ways as “compulsory”. (e.g. “Your boarding pass is necessary.” “It is necessary to take off your belt.”)
Another synonym for “compulsory” is required. This can only be used in a sentence as an adjective which describes the action/item). (e.g. “Driving on the right is required.”)

prohibited is related to the modal verbs mustn’t. It means, basically, “don’t do this. If you do this, you’ll be in trouble (or you can’t continue).”
When you get on the plane, there are certain items which you must not have in your bag. Usually, you see a sign like this at the check-in desk:

HOW TO USE prohibited: The sign may also have text which uses the word “prohibited”:

1. (as an adjective which describes the action/item) Guns are prohibited.

1. (as an adjective which describes the action/item)
[noun]	[“to be”]	[adjective]	[optional information]
Guns	are	prohibited	on the airplane.
Smoking	is	prohibited	in most hospitals.
Driving on the right	is	prohibited	In the UK and Ireland.

It’s not completely wrong to say “It is prohibited to smoke in the hospital”. An English-speaker will understand this – but it doesn’t sound very natural.

Some synonyms for “prohibited” are not allowed, not permitted, barred, banned and forbidden. These are all used in a sentence in the same way as “prohibited”. (e.g. “Smoking is not allowed in most hospitals.” “Guns are forbidden on the airplane.”)
Forbidden can also be used in a sentence as an adjective which describes a verb. (e.g. “It is forbidden to smoke.”)

It’s easy to practice the language we’ve learned here. Simply look at any roadsigns in your country and try to say them in English, using a modal verb or an adjective. You could translate the rules of your school or workplace, or you could study the rules and laws of an English-speaking country.
In the week which begins 27 January, we’ll post a final quiz on our Facebook page, so keep looking and keep practicing! Good luck!