Should vs. Must

SHOULD MUST

We use should to suggest something. "It is advisable to..." The modal should expresses opinion, one person's point of view.

We use must to express a stronger point of view. "We need to..." "We have to..." The modal must also expresses opinion, one person's point of view.

We should protect our environment. It makes good sense.

We must protect our environment, or our resources will disappear.

We should select cars that are more fuel-efficient.

The car industry must change engines that burn fossil fuels.

We should use re-usable bags when shopping.

Stores must give out recyclable plastic bags.

Must (subjective obligation)

We often use must to say that something is essential or necessary (strong advice), for example:I must go. You must stay here

Structure of MustStructure of MustMust is a modal auxiliary verb. It is followed by a main verb. The structure is:subject + must + main verbThe main verb is the base verb (infinitive without "to").Look at these examples:

subjectauxiliary

mustmain verb

I must go home.

You must visit us.

We must stop now.

Like all auxiliary verbs, must CANNOT be followed by to. So, we say: I must go now. (not *I must toto go now.)

In general, must expresses personal obligation. Must expresses what the speaker thinks is necessary. Must is subjective. Look at these examples:

I must stop smoking.You must visit us soon.He must work harder.

In each of the above cases, the "obligation" is the opinion or

idea of the person speaking. In fact, it is not a real obligation.

It is not imposed from outside.

It is sometimes possible to use must for real obligation, for example a rule or a law.

But generally we use have to for this.

We can use must to talk about the present or the future.

Look at these examples:•I must go now. (present)

•I must call my mother tomorrow. (future)

*** We cannot use must to talk about the past.

WE use had to.

MUST NOT (mustn’tMUST NOT (mustn’t)

Must not expresses prohibition - something that is not permitted, not allowed.

I mustn't eat so much sugar. You mustn't watch so much television. Students must not leave bicycles here. Policemen must not drink on duty.

HAVE TOHAVE TO We often use have to to say that something is

obligatory, for example: Children have to go to school. Structure of Have toStructure of Have to Have to is often grouped with modal auxiliary verbs

for convenience, but in fact it is not a modal verb. It is not even an auxiliary verb.

In the have to structure, "have" is a main verb. The structure is:

subject + auxiliary verb + have + infinitive (with to)

subject

auxiliary verbmain verb have

infinitive (with to)

+ She has to work. all day.

-IShe

do not (don’t)Does not(doesn’t)

have to seethe doctor.

? Did you have to goto school?

•Look at these examples in the simple tense:

Use of Have to

In general, have to expresses impersonal obligation. The subject of have to is obliged or forced to act by a separate, external power (for example, the Law or school rules).

Have to is objective. Look at these examples: In France, you have to drive on the right. In England, most schoolchildren have to wear a uniform. John has to wear a tie at work.

In each of the above cases, the obligation is not the subject's opinion or idea. The obligation is imposed from outside.

We can use have to in all tenses, and also with modal auxiliaries. We conjugate it just like any other main verb. Here are some examples:

subject

auxiliary verb

main verb have

infinitive

past simple I had to work yesterday.

present simple I have to work today.

future simplefuture simple II willwill havehave to workto work tomorrow.tomorrow.

present continuous

She is having to wait.

present perfect We have had to change the time.

modal (may) TheyThey maymay havehave toto do do it again.

DOES/DO NOT have to

Have to in the negative form means it’s NOT NECESSARY.

Tomorrow is Sunday, I don’t have to go to work.

She doesn’t have to pay, it’s free. You don’t have to wait for me, I can take

the bus… (but if you want to wait, it’s OK.)

Click for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerClick for answerYesterday I_______ finish my Geography project.

2 She will _____wait in line like everyone else.

3 All employees ________be on time for work.

4 We ______forget to take the chicken out of the freezer.

5 If you are under 13 you ____ get your parents' permission.

6 Your daughter may _____ try on a few different sizes.

7 You _______come if you don’t want to.

8 Do you ________work next weekend?

9 Bicyclists ______remember to signal when they turn.

10 Angela, you ______leave your clothes all over the floor like this.

ANSWERS

1. had to 2. have to 3. have to 4. mustn’t 5 have to/must 6. have 7. don’t have to 8. have to 9. must 10. mustn’t