Course on Modals Expressing Prohibition - TOEIC® Preparation
When preparing for the TOEIC®, it is crucial to clearly express what is prohibited or forbidden in a professional context (company regulations, safety instructions, directives to employees, etc.). In this course, we will look at the different modals for expressing prohibition.
1. "Must not" for expressing strict prohibition
"Must not" (or "mustn't") is used to express a firm and explicit prohibition. It really emphasizes the absolute necessity not to do something. Generally, "mustn't" is used in formal contexts.
- Employees must not share their passwords.
- You mustn't leave personal documents on your desk overnight.
- Visitors must not enter this area without a badge.
- Staff mustn't eat in the laboratory.
Like other pure modals, "must not" can only be conjugated in the present. To express prohibition in other tenses, it is better to use "not allowed to" or "forbidden to".
Do not confuse with "do not have to"!
Do not confuse "must not" with "do not have to", as they express completely different ideas:
- "Must not": Expresses a strict prohibition. It means it is forbidden to do something.
- You must not park here.
- You must not talk during the exam.
- "Do not have to": Expresses lack of obligation. It means it is not necessary to do something, but it is not forbidden if you choose to do it.
- You do not have to park here.
- You do not have to take notes during the meeting.
On the day of the TOEIC®, pay close attention to the context in which these expressions are used, especially in instructions or dialogues. Keywords like "forbidden" or "optional" can help determine whether it is a prohibition or a lack of obligation.
2. "Cannot" for expressing prohibition
"Cannot" (or "can't") is used to express a prohibition, but in a less formal or more common way than "mustn't". In spoken language or everyday contexts, "can't" is preferred over "mustn't".
- You can't use your phone during the meeting.
- Employees cannot wear jeans on weekdays.
- You can't park your car in front of the emergency exit.
- We cannot accept credit cards for this type of payment.
Like other pure modals, "cannot" can only be conjugated in the present. To express prohibition with "cannot" in the past, use "could not", and for other tenses, use "not able to".
3. "May not" for expressing prohibition politely
"May not" is used to express a prohibition or a refusal of permission in a polite and official manner. More formal than "cannot" or "must not", it is often used in regulations or directives to indicate that an action is not allowed.
"May not" is somewhat equivalent to "not authorized to" in French.
- Employees may not leave the office before 5 p.m. without prior approval.
- You may not distribute company materials outside the organization.
- Staff members may not disclose confidential information to third parties.
- Visitors may not take pictures in this facility.
Like other pure modals, "may not" can only be conjugated in the present. To express prohibition with "may not" in other tenses, use "not permitted to".
4. "Not allowed to" and "Not permitted to" for expressing prohibition in all tenses
Generally, the two phrases "not allowed to" or "not permitted to" are used when other modals expressing prohibition cannot be used (especially when the sentence is not in the present).
However, these two phrases generally express the idea that something is not authorized or permitted very explicitly. They are often used in official or regulatory contexts.
| Tense | Not allowed to | Not permitted to |
|---|---|---|
| Present | Employees are not allowed to smoke here. | Visitors are not permitted to enter this area. |
| Past | She was not allowed to attend the meeting. | He was not permitted to access the files. |
| Future | You will not be allowed to enter without a badge. | Students will not be permitted to bring food into the library. |
| Present perfect | She has not been allowed to work from home. | He has not been permitted to share the report. |
5. "Forbidden to" and "prohibited to" for expressing formal prohibition
Like "not allowed to" or "not permitted to", "forbidden to" and "prohibited to" can be used to express prohibition in all grammatical tenses.
However, these two phrases are very formal and often used in regulations and in a legal or institutional context. They strongly emphasize the idea of prohibition, sometimes associated with a possible sanction.
- Employees are forbidden to use the company car for personal trips.
- You are prohibited from drinking alcohol on these premises.
- Residents are forbidden to play loud music after 10 p.m.
- The public is prohibited from entering the restricted zone.
6. "Should not" for expressing a warning close to prohibition
"Should not" (or "shouldn't") is not really a modal of prohibition. It rather expresses a strong advice not to do something.
In some contexts, it can be interpreted as an "indirect" prohibition or a firm warning. It is often found in safety instructions or professional recommendations.
- You should not leave your workstation unlocked.
- We shouldn't share confidential information via email.
- Employees should not send large attachments without compressing them first.
- You shouldn't wear open-toed shoes in the laboratory.
Conclusion
To succeed in the TOEIC®, knowing how to express prohibition is essential: instructions, company policies, and safety rules are omnipresent in professional texts and dialogues.
Summary of modals expressing prohibition
| Modals/Structures | Source of prohibition | Strength of prohibition | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Must not | Formal or internal authority (e.g., company regulations) | Very strong (strict prohibition) | Employees must not share their passwords. |
| Cannot | Impossibility or rule (often informal) | Strong (less formal than must not) | You cannot park here. |
| May not | Permission refused in an official context | Strong (very formal and polite) | Visitors may not enter this area without permission. |
| Not allowed to | External or internal authority (e.g., explicit instructions) | Medium to strong | You are not allowed to use your phone during the meeting. |
| Not permitted to | Official or legal authority | Very strong (formal) | Employees are not permitted to work remotely. |
| Forbidden to | Strict prohibition by an official authority | Very strong (formal, emphatic) | Residents are forbidden to play loud music after 10 p.m. |
| Prohibited from | Law or official regulation | Very strong (formal, legal) | The public is prohibited from entering the restricted zone. |
| Should not | Advice or warning (often linked to consequences) | Medium (less strict, indirect) | You should not leave your computer unlocked. |
Key Points to Remember on Modals Expressing Prohibition
- Main modals for expressing prohibition:
- Must not indicates a strict and formal prohibition.
- Cannot is slightly less formal and often used in everyday contexts.
- May not is very formal and appropriate for situations where prohibition is communicated politely or officially.
- Alternative structures:
- Not allowed to and Not permitted to are used to express explicit prohibitions, often in a professional or institutional setting.
- Forbidden to and Prohibited from emphasize a strict prohibition, with a connotation often legal or regulatory.
- Should not suggests a strong advice or warning rather than a strict prohibition.
- Compatibility with grammatical tenses:
- Modals (must not, cannot, may not) are used only in the present.
- Structures like not allowed to or not permitted to allow expressing prohibition in the past, future, or other tenses (present continuous, past perfect, etc.).
- Adapt your choice according to the context:
- Must not and Cannot are suitable for oral or everyday situations.
- May not, Not permitted to, and Prohibited from are more suited to formal or professional contexts.
- Mistakes to avoid:
- Do not confuse must not (prohibition) with do not have to (lack of obligation).
- Modals cannot be conjugated in the past or future; use alternative structures like was not allowed to or will not be permitted to.
Other courses on modals
Here are our other courses on modals that you can consult to prepare for the TOEIC®:
- 🔗 Overview on modals for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing ability for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing permission for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing obligation for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing lack of obligation for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing advice for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing suggestion and proposal for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing intention or near future for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing probability and uncertainty for TOEIC®
- 🔗 Course on expressing preference and wish for TOEIC®