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Oxford Online English, Modal Verbs - How to Use Must, Have to and Should - English Grammar Lesson

Modal Verbs - How to Use Must, Have to and Should - English Grammar Lesson

Hi, I'm Kasia.

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

In this lesson, you can learn about the modal verbs must, have to and should.

Do you know the difference between 'must', 'have to' and 'should'?

English learners often mix up these three verbs.

In this lesson, you can learn how to use must, have to and should correctly in English.

Must and have to are both used to talk about obligations: things you cannot choose not

to do.

For example:

We must talk to her before she leaves.

I have to go into work early tomorrow.

If you say, We must talk to her before she leaves, you mean that you think this is very

important, and you need to do it.

When you say, I have to go into work early tomorrow, you mean that you have no choice.

These are both obligations, but they're slightly different.

Can you see how they're different?

The first obligation is more personal, which is why you use must.

You feel that it's necessary and important to talk to her before she leaves.

The obligation comes from you and your feelings.

What about have to?

The second obligation is more situational, which is why you use have to.

It's necessary to go into work early tomorrow, maybe because you have to meet a client, or

you have some important work to finish.

The obligation comes from the situation, not from you.

Let's see some more examples:

I must pay him back like I promised.

--> You made a promise, and now it's important to you personally to keep your promise and

pay him back.

He has to do a lot of homework every week.

--> He needs to do a lot of homework because the school gives him a lot of homework.

It's rare to use must to talk about obligations in spoken English.

Native English speakers use have to much more in conversation.

However, you can use must to talk about obligations in formal or written English.

For example:

All passengers must have a valid ticket.

Candidates must arrive no later than five minutes before the scheduled start time.

Want an easy answer to this?

Here's an easy answer: use have to when you speak.

Using must to talk about obligations can sound very formal and strange in spoken English.

If you use have to when you speak, you'll never be wrong!

You can use must to talk about obligations in your written English if you're writing

something more formal.

This doesn't mean that you won't hear must in conversation; actually, you'll hear

it a lot.

Why is this?

Didn't we just tell you not to use must in spoken English?

It's because must has many other meanings, too.

Using must to talk about obligations is rare in spoken English, but you can use it for

many other things.

Okay, you've seen how must and have to are different.

What about mustn't and don't have to?

Wait, what?

We just talked about must and have to.

Isn't this the same?

Not at all.

Must and have to aren't exactly the same, but they are quite similar.

However, the negatives—mustn't and don't have to—are completely different.

Look at two sentences:

Visitors must not touch the paintings.

You don't have to be here before ten.

Can you tell the difference?

Must not means that something is forbidden.

You are not allowed to do this.

If you're in a museum, and the sign says Visitors must not touch the paintings, then

don't touch the paintings!

Don't have to means that something is not necessary.

You can choose to do something or not.

If we have plans, and I tell you, You don't have to be here before ten, then you can be

here before ten if you want.

You can come at nine, at eight, or whenever you want.

It's your choice.

Let's see some more examples:

Passengers must not talk to the driver while the bus is moving.

--> It's forbidden to talk to the driver while the bus is moving; you aren't allowed

to do this.

You don't have to finish it today.

--> You can finish it today if you want to, but you can also leave it until later if you

want.

It's your choice.

Like must, must not is more common in formal or written English.

In spoken English, it's more common to use can't.

For example, you might see a sign saying:

Mobile phones must not be used while driving.

But, if you were talking, you'd probably say:

You can't use your phone while you're driving.

On the other hand, don't have to is common in both spoken and written English.

So now you've seen the difference between must and have to, but what about should?

Remember that must and have to can be used to talk about obligations.

Should is different.

You use should to give advice or express your opinion.

For example:

You should go to bed earlier.

Then you wouldn't feel so tired all the time.

--> This is my advice.

I think it's better for you to do this, but it isn't necessary.

It's not an obligation, so you still have a choice.

He should do more work if he wants to get promoted.

--> This is my opinion.

I don't think he needs to do it, and I don't necessarily care if he does this or not.

You can't use should to talk about obligations or rules.

When you say,

You should…

You mean that the person has a choice.

You're giving your opinion or some advice.

However, must can also be used to give advice.

For example:

You must try the fish.

It's delicious!

Actually, you can also use have to to give advice.

You could also say:

You have to try the fish.

It's delicious!

Can you tell the difference between using should to give advice, and using must or have

to?

Giving advice with must or have to is stronger and more emphatic than giving advice with

should.

If you say:

You should try the fish.

This sounds quite neutral, but if you say:

You must try the fish!

Or, You have to try the fish!

These sound much stronger.

You're more excited about what you're saying.

You really like that fish!

So, you can use must, have to or should to give advice or express opinions.

Using must or have to expresses stronger feelings than just using should.

However, if you want to give negative advice, only shouldn't is possible.

For example:

You shouldn't eat so much chocolate at once—you'll make yourself sick!

You shouldn't take the job unless you're sure it's what you want.

In negative sentences, you can only use shouldn't to give advice or express your opinion.

You can't use mustn't or don't have to with this meaning.

At this point, you've seen how to use must, have to and should to talk about obligations

or advice.

Let's put everything together by comparing all three verbs.

Use must for:

Obligations you feel strongly about: I must remember to send him a birthday card.

Obligations in formal, written English: All employees must wash hands.

Strong advice: You must read it—it's an amazing story!

Saying something is forbidden, if you use mustn't: Children must not be left unattended.

Remember that mustn't or must not are more formal, and in spoken English it's more

common to say can't.

Next, what about have to?

You use have to for:

Obligations which depend on rules or circumstances: I have to wear glasses because I can't see

so clearly.

Most obligations in spoken English: Do you have to work tomorrow?

Saying something is not necessary: You don't have to do this if you don't want to.

Strong advice: You have to try this ice cream!

Using have to for strong advice sounds more conversational than using must.

Finally, should.

You can use should for:

Giving advice: You should try once more—I'm sure you can get it.

Giving negative advice: You shouldn't work so hard.

Take a break sometimes!

Giving your opinion: If they make us work overtime, they should pay us for it.

One last point: these three verbs can also be used to talk about probability and certainty.

In this video, we focused on talking about obligations and giving advice, but these verbs

can also be used in other ways.

So now you've seen how to use must, have to and should in different ways.

Want more practice with this topic?

Check out the full lesson on our website: Oxford Online English.com.

You can read the script and practice with a quiz.

Thanks for watching!

See you next time!

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Modal Verbs - How to Use Must, Have to and Should - English Grammar Lesson Modalverben - Wie man "muss", "soll" und "sollte" verwendet - Englisch Grammatik Lektion Verbos modales - Cómo usar must, have to y should - Lección de gramática inglesa Verbes modaux - Comment utiliser Must, Have to et Should - Leçon de grammaire anglaise Verbi modali - Come usare Must, Have to e Should - Lezione di grammatica inglese モーダル動詞-Must、Have to、Shouldの使い方-英文法レッスン 조동사 - Must, Have to, Should를 사용하는 방법 - 영어 문법 수업 Modale werkwoorden - Hoe moeten, moeten en moeten te gebruiken - Engelse grammaticales Czasowniki modalne - jak używać Must, Have to i Should - Lekcja gramatyki angielskiej Verbos modais - Como usar Must, Have to e Should - Lição de gramática inglesa Модальные глаголы - как использовать Must, Have to и Should - урок английской грамматики Modal Fiiller - Must, Have to ve Should Nasıl Kullanılır - İngilizce Dilbilgisi Dersi Модальні дієслова - як вживати must, have to та should - урок граматики англійської мови 情态动词 - 如何使用 "必须"、"不得不 "和 "应当" - 英语语法课程 情態動詞 - 如何使用 Must、Have to 和 Should - 英語文法課

Hi, I'm Kasia.

Welcome to Oxford Online English.

In this lesson, you can learn about the modal verbs must, have to and should.

Do you know the difference between 'must', 'have to' and 'should'?

English learners often mix up these three verbs.

In this lesson, you can learn how to use must, have to and should correctly in English.

Must and have to are both used to talk about obligations: things you cannot choose not ||||||||||requirements||||| Kell||||||||||kötelezettségek|||nem tudsz|| Must і have to використовуються для позначення зобов'язань: речей, які ви не можете не робити.

to do. machen.

For example:

We must talk to her before she leaves. Wir müssen mit ihr reden, bevor sie geht. Ми повинні поговорити з нею до того, як вона поїде.

I have to go into work early tomorrow. Ich muss morgen früh zur Arbeit. Мені завтра рано на роботу.

If you say, We must talk to her before she leaves, you mean that you think this is very Якщо ви говорите: "Ми повинні поговорити з нею до того, як вона поїде", ви маєте на увазі, що вважаєте, що це дуже

important, and you need to do it. wichtig, und Sie müssen es tun. важливо, і ви повинні це робити.

When you say, I have to go into work early tomorrow, you mean that you have no choice. Коли ви говорите, що мені завтра рано на роботу, ви маєте на увазі, що у вас немає вибору.

These are both obligations, but they're slightly different. ||||||a little| ||||||kicsit| Dies sind beide Verpflichtungen, aber sie unterscheiden sich geringfügig. Це обидва зобов'язання, але вони дещо відрізняються.

Can you see how they're different? Kannst du sehen, wie sie sich unterscheiden? Бачите, чим вони відрізняються?

The first obligation is more personal, which is why you use must. ||kötelezettség||||||||| Die erste Verpflichtung ist persönlicher, weshalb Sie verwenden müssen. Перше зобов'язання є більш особистим, саме тому ви використовуєте must.

You feel that it's necessary and important to talk to her before she leaves. ||||szükséges||||||||| Sie halten es für notwendig und wichtig, mit ihr zu sprechen, bevor sie geht. Ви відчуваєте, що необхідно і важливо поговорити з нею перед її від'їздом.

The obligation comes from you and your feelings. Зобов'язання походить від вас і ваших почуттів.

What about have to?

The second obligation is more situational, which is why you use have to. |||||情境的||||||| |||||situational||||||| |||||helyzeti||||||| Друге зобов'язання є більш ситуативним, і саме тому ви використовуєте must have.

It's necessary to go into work early tomorrow, maybe because you have to meet a client, or |||||||||||||||ügyfél|

you have some important work to finish.

The obligation comes from the situation, not from you. Зобов'язання випливає з ситуації, а не з вас.

Let's see some more examples: ||||példák Розглянемо ще кілька прикладів:

I must pay him back like I promised. |必须|还||||| Ich muss es ihm zurückzahlen, wie ich es versprochen habe. Я мушу віддати йому борг, як і обіцяв.

--> You made a promise, and now it's important to you personally to keep your promise and |tettél|||||||||személyesen||||| --> Du hast ein Versprechen gegeben, und jetzt ist es dir persönlich wichtig, dein Versprechen zu halten und

pay him back.

He has to do a lot of homework every week.

--> He needs to do a lot of homework because the school gives him a lot of homework. |szüksége van|- hogy||||||||||||||

It's rare to use must to talk about obligations in spoken English. ||||||||zobowiązania||| Es ist selten, must zu verwenden, um im gesprochenen Englisch über Verpflichtungen zu sprechen. У розмовній англійській мові рідко вживається must для позначення зобов'язань.

Native English speakers use have to much more in conversation.

However, you can use must to talk about obligations in formal or written English.

For example:

All passengers must have a valid ticket. |||||valid| Всі пасажири повинні мати дійсний квиток. 所有乘客必须持有有效的车票。

Candidates must arrive no later than five minutes before the scheduled start time. |||不|||||||预定的|| ||||||||||scheduled|| Кандидати повинні прибути не пізніше, ніж за п'ять хвилин до запланованого часу початку. 候选人必须在预定开始时间前五分钟到达。

Want an easy answer to this? Willst du eine einfache Antwort darauf? Хочете просту відповідь? 想要一个简单的答案吗?

Here's an easy answer: use have to when you speak. Hier ist eine einfache Antwort: Verwenden Sie müssen, wenn Sie sprechen. Ось проста відповідь: використовуйте have to, коли говорите.

Using must to talk about obligations can sound very formal and strange in spoken English. Використання must для позначення зобов'язань може звучати дуже формально і дивно в розмовній англійській мові.

If you use have to when you speak, you'll never be wrong! ||||||||soha||| Wenn Sie müssen, wenn Sie sprechen, werden Sie nie falsch liegen! Якщо ви використовуєте have to, коли говорите, ви ніколи не помилитеся!

You can use must to talk about obligations in your written English if you're writing Sie können must verwenden, um in Ihrem schriftlichen Englisch über Verpflichtungen zu sprechen, wenn Sie schreiben Ви можете використовувати must, щоб говорити про зобов'язання в письмовій англійській мові, якщо ви пишете

something more formal. щось більш формальне.

This doesn't mean that you won't hear must in conversation; actually, you'll hear |||||||||||fogod| Das bedeutet nicht, dass Sie im Gespräch nicht hören müssen; eigentlich wirst du hören Це не означає, що ви не почуєте в розмові "мус", навпаки, ви почуєте

it a lot.

Why is this? Warum ist das? Perchè è questo? Чому це так?

Didn't we just tell you not to use must in spoken English? Haben wir Ihnen nicht gerade gesagt, dass Sie im gesprochenen Englisch kein must verwenden sollen? Хіба ми не казали вам не вживати must в розмовній англійській мові?

It's because must has many other meanings, too. Це тому, що must має багато інших значень.

Using must to talk about obligations is rare in spoken English, but you can use it for |||||||raro||||||||| Die Verwendung von must, um über Verpflichtungen zu sprechen, ist im gesprochenen Englisch selten, aber Sie können es für verwenden У розмовній англійській мові дієслово must рідко вживається для позначення зобов'язань, але ви можете використовувати його у таких випадках

many other things. багато інших речей.

Okay, you've seen how must and have to are different. ||láttad||||||| Okay, Sie haben gesehen, wie unterschiedlich Müssen und Müssen sind. Гаразд, ви побачили, чим відрізняються "повинен" і "мушу".

What about mustn't and don't have to? ||nem szabad|||| А як щодо "не можна" і "не треба"?

Wait, what? Warte was? Зачекай, що?

We just talked about must and have to. Wir haben gerade über müssen und müssen gesprochen. Ми просто говорили про "треба" і "мусимо".

Isn't this the same? Хіба це не одне й те саме?

Not at all. Affatto. Зовсім ні.

Must and have to aren't exactly the same, but they are quite similar. |||||||||||meglehetősen| Must und have to sind nicht genau dasselbe, aber sie sind sich ziemlich ähnlich. Must і have to - це не зовсім одне й те саме, але вони дуже схожі.

However, the negatives—mustn't and don't have to—are completely different. Однак негативи - не можна і не потрібно - це зовсім інше.

Look at two sentences:

Visitors must not touch the paintings. |||||画作 |||||paintings Besucher dürfen die Gemälde nicht berühren. Відвідувачі не повинні торкатися картин.

You don't have to be here before ten. Du musst nicht vor zehn hier sein. Вам не обов'язково бути тут до десятої.

Can you tell the difference? Чи можете ви відчути різницю?

Must not means that something is forbidden. ||||事情||禁止的 ||||||prohibited "Не можна" не означає, що щось заборонено.

You are not allowed to do this. Non sei autorizzato a farlo. Ви не маєте права цього робити.

If you're in a museum, and the sign says Visitors must not touch the paintings, then Se sei in un museo e il cartello dice che i visitatori non devono toccare i dipinti, allora Якщо ви перебуваєте в музеї, а на табличці написано, що відвідувачам не можна торкатися картин, то

don't touch the paintings! Berühren Sie die Gemälde nicht! не чіпайте картини!

Don't have to means that something is not necessary. 不需要|||||某事||| Non devi significa che qualcosa non è necessario. Не треба означає, що щось не є необхідним. 不必意味着某件事情不是必要的。

You can choose to do something or not. Ви можете вибирати, робити щось чи ні. 你可以选择做某事或不做。

If we have plans, and I tell you, You don't have to be here before ten, then you can be Wenn wir Pläne haben, und ich sage Ihnen, Sie müssen nicht vor zehn hier sein, dann können Sie es sein 如果我们有计划,我告诉你,你不必十点之前到,那么你可以选择不来。

here before ten if you want.

You can come at nine, at eight, or whenever you want.

It's your choice. Es ist Ihre Wahl.

Let's see some more examples:

Passengers must not talk to the driver while the bus is moving. Fahrgäste dürfen während der Fahrt nicht mit dem Fahrer sprechen.

--> It's forbidden to talk to the driver while the bus is moving; you aren't allowed |forbidden|||||||||||||

to do this.

You don't have to finish it today. Du musst es heute nicht beenden.

--> You can finish it today if you want to, but you can also leave it until later if you --> Sie können es heute beenden, wenn Sie möchten, aber Sie können es auch auf später verschieben, wenn Sie möchten

want.

It's your choice.

Like must, must not is more common in formal or written English. |||||更||||||

In spoken English, it's more common to use can't.

For example, you might see a sign saying: Beispielsweise sehen Sie möglicherweise ein Schild mit der Aufschrift:

Mobile phones must not be used while driving. Mobiltelefone dürfen während der Fahrt nicht benutzt werden.

But, if you were talking, you'd probably say: Aber wenn du reden würdest, würdest du wahrscheinlich sagen:

You can't use your phone while you're driving. Sie können Ihr Telefon während der Fahrt nicht benutzen. Non puoi usare il telefono mentre guidi.

On the other hand, don't have to is common in both spoken and written English.

So now you've seen the difference between must and have to, but what about should?

Remember that must and have to can be used to talk about obligations.

Should is different. Sollte anders sein.

You use should to give advice or express your opinion.

For example:

You should go to bed earlier.

Then you wouldn't feel so tired all the time.

--> This is my advice.

I think it's better for you to do this, but it isn't necessary.

It's not an obligation, so you still have a choice.

He should do more work if he wants to get promoted.

--> This is my opinion.

I don't think he needs to do it, and I don't necessarily care if he does this or not. |||||||||||||||做|||

You can't use should to talk about obligations or rules.

When you say,

You should…

You mean that the person has a choice.

You're giving your opinion or some advice. ||||||conselho

However, must can also be used to give advice.

For example:

You must try the fish.

It's delicious!

Actually, you can also use have to to give advice.

You could also say:

You have to try the fish.

It's delicious!

Can you tell the difference between using should to give advice, and using must or have

to?

Giving advice with must or have to is stronger and more emphatic than giving advice with |||||||||||强调|||| |||||||||||emphatic||||

should.

If you say:

You should try the fish.

This sounds quite neutral, but if you say: 这|||||||

You must try the fish!

Or, You have to try the fish!

These sound much stronger.

You're more excited about what you're saying.

You really like that fish!

So, you can use must, have to or should to give advice or express opinions.

Using must or have to expresses stronger feelings than just using should.

However, if you want to give negative advice, only shouldn't is possible.

For example:

You shouldn't eat so much chocolate at once—you'll make yourself sick! Du solltest nicht so viel Schokolade auf einmal essen – dir wird schlecht! Non dovresti mangiare così tanto cioccolato in una volta, ti farai star male!

You shouldn't take the job unless you're sure it's what you want. Du solltest den Job nicht annehmen, wenn du dir nicht sicher bist, dass es das ist, was du willst.

In negative sentences, you can only use shouldn't to give advice or express your opinion.

You can't use mustn't or don't have to with this meaning. Sie können must't oder don't have to mit dieser Bedeutung verwenden.

At this point, you've seen how to use must, have to and should to talk about obligations

or advice.

Let's put everything together by comparing all three verbs. Fassen wir alles zusammen, indem wir alle drei Verben vergleichen.

Use must for:

Obligations you feel strongly about: I must remember to send him a birthday card. Verpflichtungen, die Ihnen wichtig sind: Ich muss daran denken, ihm eine Geburtstagskarte zu schicken.

Obligations in formal, written English: All employees must wash hands. Obblighi in inglese formale e scritto: tutti i dipendenti devono lavarsi le mani.

Strong advice: You must read it—it's an amazing story! Starker Rat: Sie müssen es lesen – es ist eine erstaunliche Geschichte!

Saying something is forbidden, if you use mustn't: Children must not be left unattended. |||||||||||||无人看管 |||||||||||||without supervision Sagen ist verboten, wenn man nicht darf: Kinder dürfen nicht unbeaufsichtigt gelassen werden. Dire qualcosa è proibito, se usi must not: i bambini non devono essere lasciati incustoditi. 說某事是禁止的,如果你用「mustn’t」:Children must not be left unattented。

Remember that mustn't or must not are more formal, and in spoken English it's more

common to say can't.

Next, what about have to?

You use have to for:

Obligations which depend on rules or circumstances: I have to wear glasses because I can't see ||||||情况||||||||| ||||||circumstances|||||||||

so clearly.

Most obligations in spoken English: Do you have to work tomorrow?

Saying something is not necessary: You don't have to do this if you don't want to.

Strong advice: You have to try this ice cream!

Using have to for strong advice sounds more conversational than using must.

Finally, should.

You can use should for:

Giving advice: You should try once more—I'm sure you can get it.

Giving negative advice: You shouldn't work so hard. |||你||||

Take a break sometimes!

Giving your opinion: If they make us work overtime, they should pay us for it. |||如果||||||||||| ||||||||overtime|||||| Sagen Sie Ihre Meinung: Wenn sie uns Überstunden machen lassen, sollten sie uns dafür bezahlen.

One last point: these three verbs can also be used to talk about probability and certainty. |||these||||||||||probability|| Ein letzter Punkt: Diese drei Verben können auch verwendet werden, um über Wahrscheinlichkeit und Gewissheit zu sprechen.

In this video, we focused on talking about obligations and giving advice, but these verbs

can also be used in other ways.

So now you've seen how to use must, have to and should in different ways.

Want more practice with this topic?

Check out the full lesson on our website: Oxford Online English.com.

You can read the script and practice with a quiz.

Thanks for watching!

See you next time!