may, shall , must ,may not (或shall not)对学过英语的人再熟悉不过,但在合同中用这些词时要极其谨慎。权利义务的约见定部分构成了合同的主体。这几个词如选用不当,可能会引起纠纷。
may 旨在约定当事人的权利(可以做什么),shall约定当事人的义务(应当做什么时候), must 用于强制性义务(必须做什么),may not (或shall not)用于禁止性义务(不得做什么)。may do 不能说成can do shall do,不能说成should do 或ought to do,may not do 在美国一些法律文件可以用shall not,但绝不能用can not do或must not )
例如,在约定解决争议的途径时的,可以说:
the parties hereto shall, first of all, settle any dispute arising from or in connection with the contract by friendly negotiations. should such negotiations fail, such dispute may be referred to the people's court having jurisdiction on such dispute for settlement in the absence of any arbitration clause in the disputed contract or in default of agreement reached after such dispute occurs.