Usage of "Must" in speaking
The modal verb "must" is used in speaking to convey various meanings and functions:
Necessity or Obligation: "Must" is frequently used to express a strong necessity or obligation.
- "I must finish this report by tomorrow morning."
- "You must wear a seatbelt when driving."
Certainty or Strong Deduction: "Must" can indicate a high degree of certainty or strong deduction based on evidence or logical inference.
- "She's been studying all night; she must be prepared for the exam."
- "There's no response from their end; they must be out of the office."
Prohibition: In negative statements, "must" can convey a prohibition or a strong prohibition.
- "You must not smoke in here; it's against the rules."
- "You mustn't touch the paintings in the museum."
Advice or Recommendation: Sometimes "must" is used to give strong advice or recommendations.
- "You must try the seafood pasta at that restaurant; it's amazing!"
- "If you want to succeed, you must never give up."
Expressing Conviction or Resolution: "Must" can also convey a strong conviction or resolution.
- "I must find a way to solve this problem."
- "We must stand up for what is right."
Inferences or Conclusions: "Must" can be used to draw inferences or conclusions based on available information.
- "With all the traffic, they must be running late."
- "The phone is ringing; it must be John calling."
"Must" is a versatile modal verb that is used to express a sense of necessity, obligation, certainty, prohibition, advice, conviction, or inference in spoken English. Its usage can vary depending on the context and the speaker's intention.
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