Must, Have to, and Should for Obligation and Advice in English

Summary

In this lesson, Alicia explains the differences between 'must,' 'have to,' and 'should,' highlighting their uses in various contexts. 'Must' is used for official rules and strong personal advice, while 'have to' refers to everyday responsibilities. 'Should' is for general advice or recommendations. The video also touches on their negative forms, such as 'must not,' 'don't have to,' and 'shouldn't.' Alicia emphasizes when to use these phrases appropriately in different situations, helping learners grasp subtle differences in English expression for both formal and informal contexts.

Takeaways

• 😀 Must and must not are used for official rules and strong personal advice, with must not being more formal and rule-like.
• 😀 In British English, 'mustn't' is an informal alternative to 'must not', but American English typically uses 'must not'.
• 😀 'Have to' and 'don't have to' are used to express everyday responsibilities, and are more common than 'must' for such contexts.
• 😀 'Must' is often too strong for everyday responsibilities like going to work, where 'have to' or 'has to' sounds more natural.
• 😀 For everyday general advice, 'should' is preferred over 'must'. For example, 'You should go home' is a typical use of 'should'.
• 😀 The negative form of 'should' is 'should not' or the contracted form 'shouldn't', used for general advice or suggestions.
• 😀 'Must' conveys a stronger obligation, often used in formal or serious contexts, unlike 'should', which is softer and used for regular advice.
• 😀 'Have to' is commonly used to describe regular responsibilities like school, work, or family duties.
• 😀 'Don't have to' means there is no obligation, indicating freedom to act (e.g., 'I don't have to go to work today').
• 😀 Be mindful of using 'have to' in the negative for unusual or irregular responsibilities, as it may sound strange (e.g., 'I don't have to drink alcohol at work').

Q & A

What is the primary focus of this lesson?

The lesson focuses on explaining the differences between the modal verbs 'must,' 'have to,' and 'should,' along with their negative forms. The speaker emphasizes when and how to use each of these expressions in various contexts such as official rules, personal advice, and general recommendations.

What is the difference between 'must' and 'must not' in terms of usage?

'Must' is used for official rules and strong personal advice, while 'must not' is used to indicate prohibition, meaning something is not allowed. For example, 'Passengers must show passports at immigration' (official rule) and 'Visitors must not wear shoes inside' (prohibition).

Why is 'must not' considered stronger than 'may not'?

'Must not' is considered stronger because it conveys a formal, rule-like statement indicating prohibition. 'May not' is more informal and less emphatic in prohibiting something.

When should 'have to' be used instead of 'must'?

'Have to' should be used to express everyday responsibilities or obligations, such as 'I have to go to work.' Using 'must' in these situations sounds too formal and conveys a sense of something more official or serious.

What is the purpose of using 'have to' in the negative form?

The negative form 'don't have to' or 'doesn't have to' is used to indicate that there is no responsibility or obligation to do something. For example, 'He doesn't have to come' means he is not required to come.

Can 'must' be used for everyday responsibilities?

'Must' is not typically used for everyday responsibilities, as it sounds too formal. Instead, 'have to' or 'has to' is preferred. For example, 'I have to go to work' sounds more natural than 'I must go to work.'

What is the main difference between 'must' and 'should'?

'Must' is used for strong personal advice or official rules, while 'should' is used for general advice and suggestions. 'Should' is more casual and suitable for everyday recommendations.

Why does the speaker recommend using 'should' for giving advice?

'Should' is used for giving general, everyday advice. It communicates a suggestion or recommendation without strong pressure or obligation. For example, 'You should go home' is a general suggestion, whereas 'You must go home' sounds much more serious.

What is the importance of using 'should not' (shouldn't) correctly?

'Should not' (or 'shouldn't') is used for giving negative advice or making recommendations in everyday situations. It is important to use it to suggest what someone should avoid, as in 'We shouldn't talk so loudly.'

What makes 'have to' sound stronger than 'should' in some situations?

'Have to' can sound stronger than 'should' when giving a recommendation with enthusiasm or urgency. For example, 'You have to try this restaurant' conveys more excitement and a sense of importance than 'You should try this restaurant.'