In English, there is such a thing as modal verbs: can, may, must, should or be able to. Three of them are translated into Russian with the same word - "must." They are just one of the most frequent confusions of Russian-speaking people. But what then is the difference should, must, have to, if their values are approximately similar?
Not really very similar. They all translate as “must,” but have different emotional meanings. Let's try to figure it out what the difference should, must and have to be.
Should
This modal verb is used when we give someone friendly advice or some kind of soft advice. It can also be translated into Russian as “should”. When it's cold outside, we tell a close friend: "You should put on a jacket!" But at the same time, a friend can either listen to advice or do as he wants. That is, should not imply any mandatory action.
- I think, Mary should find a job. “I think Mary should find a job.”
- Jonh should listen to his parents more often. “John should listen to his parents more often.”
- You should be kinder to your children! They are so nice! “You should (you should) be kinder to your children.” They're so cute!
In some cases, should should take a more crude form, depending on the context in which it is used:
- You should do what I ask! “You should (you must) do what I ask!”
Using this modal verb, you can also ask for the same friendly advice or recommendation:
- Should I buy that red dress? “Should I buy that red dress?”
Must
What is the difference between should and must? The difference between should and must is that the second modal verb can rigidly explain some mandatory action that someone MUST and SHOULD do. Often must is a moral duty, such as a duty to protect one’s country or to abide by the law. That is, this modal verb is used when you talk about some of your own beliefs or about generally accepted rules and laws.
- Every man must think about the environment. - Everyone is obliged to think about the environment.
- I am a soldier, and soldiers must follow instructions. “I am a soldier, and the soldiers must follow the instructions.”
- You must be stronger and forget about him! - You must be stronger and forget about him!
In negative sentences, it appears as any harsh, categorical prohibition to do something. Usually translated as "not."
- You must not lie to me! “You can't lie to me!”
- You are too weak, you musn't smoke! “You are too weak; you must not smoke!”
- Alice musn't be here, and you know that. “Alice cannot be here, and you know that.”
Must is usually not used in interrogative form and does not change over time, for this there is the following word - have to.
Have to
This word is not a modal verb, as the previous two, but also translated into Russian as "should." It is used when talking about some kind of forced action: "I had to," "I was forced." You can also translate have to as "be forced," "required," "necessary."
We give simple examples in Russian.
If a person has poor eyesight, he has to wear glasses to see normally. Mary wanted to go for a walk with her friends, but she had to stay at home, because she had to follow her younger brother. Alex and Jessica quickly said goodbye, because Alex had to leave the city at five.
In all these cases, the English version has have to.
- She has a miopia. That's why she has to wear glasses. - She has myopia. That's why she wears (she has to wear) glasses.
- Sorry, Jessica, I have to go now. My bus leaves the city at five o'clock. - Sorry, Jessica, I have to (I have to) go now. The bus leaves the city at five o’clock.
Unlike must in negative sentences means no need to do anything or no obligation for some action. Whereas must certainly mean a categorical prohibition to do something.
- You don't have to help us with all this stuff. “You should not (no need) help us with all this.”
- You didn't have to make desicion by yourself, so it's Ok, Lucy. “You didn't have to decide everything yourself, so everything is fine, Lucy.”
Have to is used in interrogative sentences with auxiliary verbs to ask about the need to do something. Often translated into Russian with the word "need" or "necessary."
- Do I really have to learn history? - Do I really need to learn history?
- Will I have to go shopping? - Do I need to go shopping?
Have to as an analogue of must
Depending on the time, have to can change and replace must in the past and future tenses.
- Mary had been invited to the party, but she had to look after her younger brother. - Mary was invited to a party, but she had to (she should) look after her younger brother.
- Actually, you had to turn right. - Actually, you had to (you should) turn right.
- Mike, you will have to do all housework, make meal, feed the cat and call us every day after your classes while we are not home. - Mike, you have to (you will have to) do all the housework, prepare food, feed the cat and call us every day after class until we are at home.
Since must is not used in the past or in the future, have to can replace it to show past or future obligations, as shown in previous sentences. Also used in interrogative sentences instead of must:
- Do I have to follow all these rules? - Do I have to follow all these rules?
Ought to and should: what's the difference?
The difference should, must and have to we have already figured out, but there is another modal verb that is similar in meaning to the verb should, but is much less common. They are often confused, all of them, one might say, are almost similar. But still there is a slight difference in their use.
In many cases, they can replace each other, as both indicate advice or recommendation. However, should be used much more often in interrogative sentences and in any formal or more polite advice. And ought to is a more expression of obligation based on any personal convictions, a sharper remark to do something right.
- Alice ought to ask her parents before making such decisions! “Alice should (it would be more correct) to ask her parents before making such decisions.”
- Your ought to be more understanding to his problem. “You should be more understanding about his problems.”
The verb ought is not used in the future tense, and most often the tense is clear from the context. Also, it does not change in faces.
- You ought to go with us tomorrow. “You should come with us tomorrow.”
It can be said that outgh to is the brother of the modal verb should, but with a touch of obligation. Although in any situations where ought to can be used, you should also use.
In the article, we examined what the difference between should, must and have to are, and gave examples to better understand their meanings.