Must, have to or should: how to choose a modal verb. Modal verbs Must, Have to Difference between should and must

There are pairs of modal verbs that supposedly have the same translation into Russian, but different semantic shades, hence different cases of use in English. Such word pairs often represent something like “false” equivalents. Today we will continue to deal with such pairs of verbs and consider the following modal verbs:

• must — must
• have to — must
• ought to — must

The modal verbs must, have to and ought to have the same translation with different semantic connotations

When to use the modal verb must

Modal verb must used to convey the need to perform an action under the influence of certain circumstances, and is also used when expressing advice or order

It does not have the forms of past and future tenses, therefore, if necessary, it is replaced by have to.

• We will have to be at the park by 8 o’clock, if we want to see her. — We have to be at the park by 8 o'clock if we want to see her.
• He had to rewrite his essay. — He had to rewrite his essay

Must used in the following cases:

Characteristics of the modal verb have to

Modal verb have to has the ability to reflect the categories of number and person, which almost all other modal verbs are not capable of

• He has to work 9 hours a day. — He must work 9 hours a day
• They had to prevent us. - They should have warned us

The second characteristic is the particle -to, characteristic of only a few modal verbs.

• You have to answer this question. — You have to answer this question

To construct a negative and interrogative sentence with a modal verb have to need an auxiliary word to do

• Do you have to write the essay? — Should you write an essay?
• He doesn't have to be here. — He shouldn't be here

Modal verb must used to convey the need to perform an action due to certain circumstances that force

• We have to hold meeting in this room according to timetable. — According to the schedule, we must hold a meeting in this room

The modal verb must is used to convey the need to perform an action due to certain circumstances that force

Modal verb have to has a similar meaning have got to. However, the boundaries of their use are clearly separated by the rule:

Have to used with actions that are often repeated, and have got to with specific actions

• She has to make bed every morning. — She has to make the bed every morning
• She has got to wash the dishes today. — She has to wash the dishes today

About the modal verb ought to

This verb has only one form and, like the previous verb, has a particle -to, standing before the main verb. Modal verb ought to extremely rarely used in interrogative and negative sentences. You can meet it in sentences of this kind only in formal text:

• We ought not to discuss this problem. — We should not condemn this problem
• Ought I to read this letter? — Should I read this letter?

Ought to is used:

1. To indicate moral duty, obligation or advice:
   • You ought to say only the truth. — You must cook only the truth
2. To express a natural assumption:
   • They have done such a difficult task and they ought to be all-out. - They completed such a difficult task, they must be exhausted

   Ought to in spoken English it is used more rarely than a verb related to it in meaning should, which has gained wider use among English speakers. In the following short video you will learn about the modal verb should.

Video: About modal verbs Must, Have to, Should, Ought to

In English, modal verbs express the speaker's attitude towards the content of the utterance. In one of our previous articles, we already looked at the main characteristics of modal verbs and talked about the verbs can and may.
Continuing this topic, we will look at the features of using another group of modal verbs: must, have to, be to.

Must

Must is a pure modal verb that has only one form and can characterize an attitude to action in the present or future tense. After must the semantic verb is used in the initial form without a particle to:

You must take the pills.- You must take your medicine.
You must finish the work tomorrow. - You must finish work tomorrow.

1. Must expresses the need to perform any action due to personal beliefs, circumstances, principles and is translated must, must.

This verb is the most categorical in this group. In affirmative sentences he expresses the greatest degree debt And strong recommendation, and in negation it will take on the meaning categorical prohibition:

He must see the doctor. - He needs (simply necessary, otherwise the matter will end in tears) to see a doctor./ circumstances

We must see the film. - We must watch this film (this cannot be missed)./ personal beliefs

He musn't enter my room. - He is forbidden to enter my room./ a categorical prohibition in a commanding tone

2. In the second person (when using the pronoun you) modal verb must expresses direct order:

You must listen to me. - You have to listen to me.

3. In function must includes the expression assumption that borders on certainty. We're talking about high probability here (surely it should be):

You must be joking. - You must be joking.

He must be ill. - He's probably sick.

For expression negative probability (probably not/must not be) a negative adverb should be used never or negative particles/prefixes.
It should be noted that the proposal will acquire the character of a categorical prohibition as soon as must attaches not. Compare two examples:

You must never have seen this film. - You must not have seen this film.

You mustn't see this film. - You shouldn't watch this film.

Linguists classify verbs be to And have to to modal equivalents, since these verbs can also be used independently in a sentence and be auxiliary.

Have to

In the meaning of modality have to expresses the need to perform an action that is caused by circumstances (forced, will have to, must). Here comes the complete absence of voluntary aspiration:

I have to finish this painting. - I need to finish this picture(although I no longer have any desire to do this).

She had to come to the party. Her boss asked her to. - She had to go to the party because her boss asked her to.

1. Verb have to cannot form interrogative and negative sentences independently and needs the help of an auxiliary do/ does/ did:

Do you have to make the report? - Do you really need to make a report?

2. In negative sentences have to speaks from no need and expresses the meaning not necessary, not necessary:

3. Unlike must modal verb have to used at any time in any form. Moreover, it is the form had to is the equivalent must in the past time:

I must do it. - I must do it./ Present Simple

I had to do it. - I had to do it./ Past Simple

Be to

Be to expresses in a modal sense the need to perform an action due to some schedule or plan. In most cases, the use of this verb directly depends on the indication of the time frame:

We are to leave in 20 minutes. - We have to leave in 20 minutes.

1. Be to can be used in the present and past tense and express duty/position. It is presented in its forms depending on the person performing the action:

He was to come in an hour. - He was supposed to come in an hour.

When are you to see the doctor? - When will you see the doctor?

2. Also be to used to express categorical ban. Similar sentences can be found in the rules of use or rules of conduct in public places:

Visitors are not to take photos. - No photography allowed.

3. In modal meaning be to expresses fundamental impossibility any action:

This research is not to be done in one day. - This research cannot be done in one day.

They are not to grow up in one night. - They won't grow overnight./ It's impossible.

We wish you interesting practice and success in your studies!

Victoria Tetkina

Uses of the verb Must

1. To express urgent advice or command, both to oneself and to others.
2. To express the suggestion that something may be plausible or probable.

Features of the use of the verb Must

1. The construction must have + past participle is used to express an assumption that relates to the past.
2. Must is not used to express ought in the past tense. The verb used for this is had to.
3. Must be used in indirect speech to express a past action.

Examples

1. Must I finish this exercise now? – Should I finish this exercise now? (the need to perform an action)
2. It is almost 8 o"clock. You must hurry up - It’s almost 8 o’clock. You need to hurry up. (urgent advice or order)
3. This must be the right answer - This must be the correct answer. (expression of assumption)
4. I can't find my wallet. I must have left it at home - I can't find my wallet. I must have left his home. (an expression of an assumption that refers to the past)
5. I knew there must be some solution – I knew that it should have been some kind of solution. (used in indirect speech to express a past action)
6. You must not touch bare wires - You must not touch bare wires. (order)

#2 Modal verb Have to

Uses of the verb Have to

1. To express the need to perform an action.
2. To express the likelihood of something (more often used in American English).

Features of the use of the verb Have to

1. In interrogative and negative sentences it is used with the auxiliary verb do/does/did/will, etc.
2. Verb form changes depending on time.

Examples

1. You don"t have to make a decision right now - You don’t have to make a decision right now. (no need to take an action)
2. My sister is short-sighted. She has to wear glasses – My sister is nearsighted. She has to wear glasses. (necessity)
3. Do you have to go shopping today? We can do it tomorrow together – Do you need to go shopping today? We can do this tomorrow together. (necessity)
4. We are still on the way. It has to be further than we thought – We are still on the way. It must be further than we thought. (expression of assumption)
5. You had to turn left at the crossroads - You had to turn left at the crossroads. (not the speaker’s personal opinion, but a necessity due to certain circumstances)
6. You will have to send her an e-mail - You will have to send her an e-mail. (necessity)

#3 Modal verb Should

Uses of the verb Should

1. To express a need, advice, recommendation.

Features of the use of the verb Should

1. The construction should have + past participle is used when talking about events in the past that did not happen or could/could not happen.
2. Used in indirect speech in relation to the past tense, if the verb should was used in direct speech in the sentence. In other cases, the verb should not used in the past tense. Instead, was/were supposed to is usually used.

Note

The constructions should have + past participle and to be supposed to are close in meaning and can often be interchanged. However, the design should have + past participle carries a greater connotation of criticism and regret, while the construction to be supposed to is less categorical and more common in colloquial speech.

Examples

1. It is cold outside. You should put on a jacket – It’s cold outside. You should wear a jacket. (advice)
2. He should have learned this lesson by now - He should have already learned this lesson. (we are talking about an event in the past that could have already happened)
3. They said we should not wait for them - They said that we should not wait for them. (indirect speech, provided that the verb should was used in direct speech)
4. Why don"t you call them? The car should be fixed by now - Why don’t you call them? The car should already be repaired. (probability)
5. Should I follow the instructions? – Should I follow the instructions? (please give advice or recommendation)
6. She was supposed to introduce me to him (NOT She should introduce me to him) – She had to introduce me to him. (we are talking about the past tense, in which case the expression was supposed to is used instead of the verb should)

#4 Modal verb Ought to

Uses of the verb Ought to

1. To express obligation, advice, recommendation.
2. To express the probability of something.

Features of the use of the verb Ought to

1. The construction is used in relation to the past time when the event did not occur.

Examples

1. You ought to listen to your parents - You must listen to your parents. (expression of obligation)
2. Hurry up! You ought not to miss your train – Hurry up! You mustn't miss your train. (advice, recommendation)
3. Ought we to start the speech now? – Should we start speaking now? (the speaker asks for advice)
4. His behavior ought to improve after this talk - His behavior should improve after this conversation. (probability expression)
5. The plane landed an hour ago. They ought to have gone through the customs by now – The plane landed an hour ago. They are already should have passed through customs. (design ought to have + past participle; The example shows that the action did not occur)

#5 Difference between Must and Have to

1. The verb Must is used to express personal feelings speaker. The verb Have to is used when speaking about facts and about necessity due to certain circumstances.
2. The verb Must is used when talking about the present or future, but not the past. The verb Have to is used in all tenses.
3. When forming negative and interrogative sentences, the verb Have to requires the use of auxiliary verbs do/does/did/will, etc.
4. Must not is used when it is important not to do what is being discussed in the sentence. Do not have to is used when something is not needed, but it can be done (depending on the desire of the speaker).

Examples

1. You must change your diet to lose some weight - You must change your diet to lose weight. (personal opinion of the speaker)
2. You do not have to drink so much water - You may not drink so much water. (no need for this)
3. You must not drink so much water - You must not drink so much water. (this is a ban)
4. You have to turn left at the crossroads - You must turn left at the intersection. (not the speaker’s personal opinion, but a fact)

#6 Difference between Must and Should/Ought to

1. The verb Must expresses a higher degree of obligation. The verb Must is more often used in orders, regulations, etc. The verbs Should and Ought to are more often used in advice and recommendations.
2. In assumptions, the verbs Should and Ought to indicate a lower degree of confidence of the speaker than the verb Must.
3. In logical inferences and conclusions, the verb Must is used.

Examples

1. It is cold outside. You must wear a coat – It’s cold outside. You must put on your coat. (higher degree of obligation, order)
2. In weather like this you should wear a coat - In this weather you should wear a coat. (advice, recommendation)
3. The dinner must be ready now - Dinner must be ready. (high degree of confidence of the speaker)
4. The dinner should be ready now - Dinner should be ready. (lower degree of speaker's confidence, assumption)
5. Are they on holiday? They must be having a great time! -Are they on vacation? They must be having a great time! (logical conclusion, conclusion)

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HAVE TO

Have to is used in the sense of “under the influence of external circumstances, I need to do this and that.” Or also in our meaning “I have to.” Those. I myself don’t want to, but others are forcing me. I would be happy not to, but if I don’t, it will be bad.

Example: " Sorry,Ican'tgo -Ihave to domyhomework” - “Sorry, I can’t go, I have to do my homework.”

This means that a person wants to go, and does not want to do his homework at all, but, alas, he is forced to do it and therefore, no matter how much he wants, he cannot go where he wants.

In this sense, have to is often used as a polite excuse for something in the spirit of “I’m very sorry, I would love to stay, but, alas, the stars have aligned in such a way that I am forced to leave you... but I really like you and, if If I had such an opportunity, I would spend a lot more time with you, but alas” - “I’m very sorry, but I have to go.”

MUST

Must is when you need it not because someone or something forces you. But because you decided so for yourself. Because this must be done to achieve some of your higher-order goals. For example, you decided for yourself that now you will get up early every day. Accordingly, you cannot stay for the late party.

In this case, say this: “I am sorry, but I must go.” This means “sorry, but I have more important things to do. I have to go." This is a tougher form, the previous one is more polite.

NEED

Need is a need. When you say "I need something", this means "I I need in something". In the case of action, you need action. All in the same example: “I need to go” means “I need to go.” This expression emphasizes your dependence on something. Roughly speaking, you want to get a job at a company. You need her, she doesn’t need you. Then say “I need to join that company.”

The difference from have to here is that no one and nothing forces you. You're just in a low position.

SHOULD

Generally speaking, should is rarely used and is confused by many with must. However, there are differences between them, albeit subtle ones.

So, should means rather what you want relies do something in accordance with your social role, status, position. For example, you can often hear the phrase “You shouldn’t be doing that!” This means "You don't should do this! This, for example, happens when a person climbs somewhere where he is not supposed to. For example, he goes into the boss’s office and rummages through his desk. Those. should is used when we are dealing with social ideas about how you should must to act, but how not to.

Also, should is a designation of sacred Duty. For example, in front of the Motherland or Senior. “I should join this war” - “My duty is to join this war.”

CONCLUSION

Let me remind you once again that all of the above are not rules, but nothing more than my personal observations. Works about 80% of the time. However, it is precisely the understanding of such subtleties that distinguishes someone who actually knows the language from someone who knows it on paper. It’s unlikely that ordinary teachers and professors will explain this to you, you can check :)

In this article we will compare verbs must, have to And should. We will look at the meaning of verbs in terms of the functions they perform in speech, and find out which verb to choose in a given situation. We will also try to find the most accurate translation for each verb.

Must vs. Have to: duty

Verbs must And have to show duty, obligation, but their meanings are different. Must implies that you believe you should do something. You think this is right and necessary. Must usually translated as “must”, “obliged”. Have to translated by the words “have to”, “forced” and shows that you must do something because circumstances require it. For this reason the verb must is considered the “strongest” of verbs showing obligation: what we ourselves believe in is more important and “obligatory” for us than anything else.

I must go now. It's getting dark. - I must leave. It's getting dark.

I have to go now. It’s getting dark and I won’t catch a taxi to get home. - I forced leave. It's getting dark, I won't be able to catch a taxi and go home.

The first example emphasizes the speaker's attitude. He is convinced that he should not walk along dark streets for his own personal reasons: he is afraid, he does not like the dark. In the second case, the speaker is forced to leave, otherwise he will not be able to go home.

Another important feature of the verb must in this function it is not used in the past tense. When we talk about an action in the past, we replace must on had to.

Yesterday I had to meet my parents at the airport. - Yesterday I had meet parents at the airport.

My parents travel a lot. Every month I must meet them at the airport. – My parents travel a lot. Every month I must meet them at the airport.

Mustn't vs. Don’t have to: prohibition or lack of need

Must And have to radically change the meaning in a negative form. Mustn't shows a prohibition and is translated as “impossible”, “not to have the right”. Don't have to shows no need. We can take action, but there is no need for it. Don't have to translated by the words “not necessary”, “no need”, “not necessary”.

You mustn't use someone's ideas in your book without any references. It's plagiarism. - You you have no right use someone else's ideas in your book without citing the original source. This is plagiarism.

You don't have to use his ideas in your book. They are not that bright. - You No need use his ideas in your book. They are not that bright.

We can use modal verbs to give advice should And must.

Should conveys the usual advice and is translated with the words “worth”, “should”.

You should go to the party. It's going to be really interesting. - You costs go to this party. It will be really interesting there.

I think you should see this exhibition. - I think you costs see this exhibition.

In the case of a party, the person is given advice. He has a choice - to go to the party or not to go. In the second example, according to the speaker, going to the exhibition will be useful, but this does not mean that the person is obliged to go there.

Verb must we use when we want to give persistent advice. Must in these cases it is translated as “certainly follows”, “certainly stands”, “must”.

You must go to that party. It will be great. - You should definitely go to the party. She'll be great.

You are an art critic. You must see this exhibition. - You are an art critic. You must see this exhibition.

We do not force a person to do anything. We think the party will be really cool, so we strongly advise you to go. The same is true in the case of going to an exhibition: according to the speaker, it will be very useful for an art critic.

Verbs should And have to can be translated as “necessary”, “must”. Because of this, they are often confused. However, most often we use should to give advice. The verb have to can sometimes be used to give emotional advice, to persuade a person to do something.

Your apartment is very small. You should change it. – Your apartment is very small. You need to(=worth) changing it.

You have to read this book! - You must read this book!

In the first case, we give advice because we think the apartment is too small. In the second case, we really liked the book and we convince the person to read it.

As described above, the forms have to And don't have to have completely different meanings, and the verb should does not change the meaning in a negative form. By using should we advise what needs to be done using shouldn't we advise what not to do.

He doesn't have to cook because his mom comes to him and does cooking. - To him No need(=not have to) cook because his mother comes to him and cooks.

He shouldn't cook for the party because nobody likes his dishes. - To him No need(=shouldn't) cook because no one likes his food.

He should cook for the party. There will be a lot of people. - To him necessary(=should) cook for the party. There will be a lot of people there.

When choosing a modal verb, you must be guided by the context and understand the exact meaning of this verb in Russian.

Let's summarize. You can see them in a general table with all modal verbs and their functions:

Modal verb	Function	Translation	Example
Must	Duty	"Must", "must"	I must go now. It's getting dark. - I must go. It's getting dark.
	Strong advice	“Definitely should/worth it”	You are an art critic. You must see this exhibition.- You are an art critic. You must see this exhibition.
Mustn't	Ban	“You can’t”, “you don’t have the right”	You mustn’t use someone’s ideas in your book without any references. It's plagiarism.– You do not have the right to use someone else’s ideas in your book without citing the original source. This is plagiarism.
Have to	Compulsion	“Have to”, “forced”	I have to go now. It’s getting dark and I won’t catch a taxi to get home.- I have to leave. It's getting dark, I won't be able to catch a taxi and go home.
Don't have to	Absence of necessity	“It’s not necessary”, “there’s no need”, “it’s not necessary”	You don't have to use his ideas in your book. They are not that bright.– You don’t need to use his ideas in your book. They are not that bright.
Should (shouldn't)	Advice	“Should”, “should” (“should not”, “should not”)	I think you should see this exhibition.– I think you should see this exhibition. He shouldn’t cook for the party because nobody likes his dishes.“He shouldn’t cook because no one likes his food.”