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The modal auxiliary must (negative
must not--which is often
contracted
to mustn't) has several uses and meanings in
present
or future time. The meaning that most
people are most familiar
with is necessity--that is, a requirement.
Examples:
All airline passengers must pass through
the
security checkpoint.
(It's necessary / a requirement
for all airline
passengers to pass through the
security checkpoint.)
If he wants
to cash a check, he must show
identification
that has his picture on it.
(If he wants to cash a check,
it's necessary /
a requirement for him to show
identification
that has his picture on it.)
You must not (mustn't) disturb Ms. Park
just
now. She's in a very important meeting.
(It's necessary / a requirement
for you not to
disturb Ms. Park just now. She's
in a very
important meeting.)
They must not (mustn't) stay here a moment
longer!
It's too dangerous!
(It's necessary / a requirement
for them not
to stay here a moment longer! It's
too dangerous!)
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Special
Notes:
| 1. |
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The expressions has to and have to (plus
the simple
form of a verb) also show the meaning
"necessity":
All airline passengers have to pass through
the
security checkpoint.
If he wants to cash a check,
he has to show
identification
that has his picture on it.
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| 2. |
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The negatives for has to and have
to are doesn't
have to and don't
have to, but
these are not
the same as must not
or mustn't. Instead of
showing
a negative requirement, they mean that
there is
no necessity
(in other words, something
doesn't matter ).
Examples:
"You must not (mustn't) stay here" means
'Don't stay here!', but "You don't have to
stay
here" means 'It isn't
necessary for
you
to stay here.' (It doesn't matter if you stay
here
or not. You can choose what to do.)
"He must not (mustn't) go into that room"
means
'Don't go into that room!', but "He
doesn't
have to go into that room" means
'It isn't
necessary for
him to go into that room.'
(It doesn't matter
if he goes into that room or
not. He can choose
what to do.)
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| 3. |
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In
fast, casual speech, the final t
in must is
often "dropped"
so that must sounds like muss.
The same thing happens with mustn't: in fast,
casual speech it sounds
like MUSSunt. |
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| 4. |
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In
fast, casual speech, has
to sounds like
HASSta
and have to sounds like HAFFta. |
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