Modal form

Requirements can be written on five different modal forms:

  • shall-form;
  • present tense form;
  • will-form;
  • should-form;
  • must-form.

All forms can be used in a Requirements Specification, but it is recommended that only one form is used consistently. Generally, requirements are written either on the shall-form, or on the present tense form, but not on both in the same Specification.

Allow a form by ticking the corresponding check box in the Modal form group. An un-ticked check box means that the form is not allowed. When a not-allowed form is used in a requirement, a serious issue is generated. When a requirement is not written on any allowed forms, a serious issue is generated.

If the Do not check form check box is ticked, no requirements are checked for compliance with the form rules.

Related Topics

Requirement rules

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