BRINGING UP CHILDREN

Date: 2015-10-07; view: 478.

Unit 3

GRAMMAR: THE MODAL VERB “MUST”

The Modal Verb ‘Must'

The modal verb ‘must' is used to express:

1) Obligation, duty, necessity (in affirmative and interrogative sentences). ‘Must' is followed in this case by the non-perfect infinitive. It can be used with reference to the present, future and past (in indirect speech).

e.g. You must study hard.

She said I must write to her.

In simple sentences and principal clauses the substitute ‘had to' is used with reference to the past.

e.g. You had to do this work yesterday.

I had to leave as it was midnight.

‘Have to' may be sometimes used with reference to the present or future (will have to) (in cases when ‘must' hasn't the proper tense form).

With ‘have to' the negative and interrogative forms are formed with the help of the auxiliary verbs (do, did, will).

e.g. – Did you have to take a porter? – Yes, I did.

I didn't have to walk the dog.

– Will Nick have to apologize for his rude behaviour? – Yes, he will.

There is sometimes a difference between ‘must' and ‘have to' referring to the present.

‘Must' – ‘Have to'

With ‘must' the speaker is expressing his own feeling to necessity. ‘Must' is used in written rules, signs, forms. With ‘have to' (circumstantial necessity) the obligation is usually external (i.e. it comes from smb. or smth. else). We use ‘have to'to talk about things that are already arranged, such as the way we do our jobs, regulations in general, appointments.

e.g. I must phone my sister. I haven't seen her for ages.

We have to go. The train is coming in 10 minutes.

‘Mustn't' and ‘don't have to' are completely different.

‘Mustn't' – ‘Don't have to'

‘You mustn't do something' means ‘It's necessary that you do not do it', it's against the rules, a bad, wrong idea. ‘You don't have to do something' means ‘It's not necessary to do it, you don't need to do it.'

e.g. You mustn't smoke here.

You don't have to stay at work after five.

The absence of necessity is expressed by the modal verb 'need' (in negative sentences). It's used with Indefinite Infinitive to refer the action to the present (needn't do) and with the Perfect Infinitive to refer the action to the past (needn't have done).

e.g. You needn't do this. I have done it.

She needn't have met me at the station.

There is some difference between ‘needn't have done' and ‘didn't have to'.

‘Needn't have done' – ‘Didn't have to'.

We use ‘needn't have done'if the action was performed and later it turned out that it wasn't was unnecessary necessary to do it. The speaker regrets about it.

We use ‘didn't have to'when the action wasn't performed. The speaker just states the fact without any feeling of regret.

There is another substitute of ‘must' – ‘be to'.

It is used to express a planned or previously arranged obligation.

e.g. When are you to have the lecture?

We are to meet at seven.

2) Prohibition (in negative sentences followed by the non-perfect infinitive).

e.g. You mustn't enter this room.

3) Strong advice, order, command (in affirmative and negative sentences).

e.g. You must learn the rules at first and then pass over to practice.

4) Supposition implying assurance (only in affirmative sentences). ‘Must' can be followed by all forms of infinitive.

e.g. She must be a very pretty girl. – Вона, напевно, симпатична дівчина.

He must have seen me. – Напевно, він мене бачив.