ASK A QUESTION What are the differences between ''should'' , ''must '' and '' have to ''

7 Vote
lovely_lovely

Hi everybody ,I have a question that has been in my mind for a long time I had a fight with my English teacher in the past angry for that question ,What are the differences between ''should'' , ''must '' and '' have to '' ? I don't think that there is any differences between them especially with ''must'' and ''should'' so can any one help me to understand that rule or the difference between them red face ( It would be very nice and appreciated if you post an example LOL )

Thanks

6 Answers

4 Vote
Izanoni1

The semantic function each of these auxiliaries plays is very dependent on the context of the sentence. For example, here are some (although by no means and exhaustive list) of the ways in which each can be used.

Should

Expected Result/Probability/Predictions/supposition
►He should be here soon
►The cap that was placed on the leaking oil well should reduce the amount of crude oil spewing into the Gulf of Mexico.
►The passenger should have died on impact
►Stock prices should increase in the next few days.
►We should have fun (supposition/expectation)

Future conditionals/”were I to”
►If I should die tomorrow, I would be happy knowing I was with you
►If I should fall ill, would you take care of me?

Recommendation or Suggestion
►Students who want to go to college should take more math and science courses
►He should be a doctor
►He should have eaten something else.
►We should have fun.

Solicitation of opinions/suggestions
►Should I help him?
►Should I go to work today?

Weak obligation/duty/propriety/necessity
►I should go now
►I should work out more often
►The government should cut taxes.
►All people should be loved.

Must

Requirement/Strong Obligation/necessity/compulsion
►Firemen must be ready for action at anytime.
►To get to Main street, you must exit at 45th street.
►Students who want to go to college must take more science courses
►Stock prices must increase in the next few day or (if not) we could all be in for a long winter
►All men must die (immediately)

A Conclusion/high probability/conjecture/certainty/inevitability
►The passenger must have died on impact
►He must be a doctor
►He must not have been sick
►It must be 5:00 o’clock with all of this traffic
►He must have eaten something else
►All men must die (eventually)
►Oh, you must be my cousin

Have to

Requirement/Strong Obligation/necessity/compulsion
►Firemen have to be ready for action at anytime.
►To get to Main street, you have to exit at 45th street.
►Students who want to go to college have to take more math and science courses.
►Stock prices have to increase in the next few day or we could all be in for a long winter
►He has to be a doctor, if he wants to prescribe medicine [external requirement/obligation]
►I have to be a doctor [self-imposed or internal requirement/obligation]
►All men have to die (immediately)

A Conclusion/high probability/conjecture/certainty/inevitability
►The passenger had to have died on impact.
►He had to have eaten something else.
►He has to be a doctor [in reaction to his ability]
►All men have to die (eventually)

Although, there is often quite a bit of overlap (interchangeability) in the way that "must" and "have to" are used, there are some notable differences. For example:

When speaking about obligation or necessity in the past, we must use "have to."
►I had to buy new shoes
►He had to go to the doctor

When speaking about certainty in the past, "must" is often preferred (although both are allowable):
►He must have eaten something else
►He had to have eaten something else

When expressing personal opinion/making strong recommendations based on personal opinion or obligation "have to" is often modified with the word "got."
►You must see the new art exhibit
►You have to see the new art exhibit
►You have got to see the new art exhibit

If these phrases are modified by an adverb, the adverb often comes between "have" and "got"
►You really must see the new art exhibit.
►You really have to see the new art exhibit.
►You have really got to see the new art exhibit/You really have got to see the new art exhibit.

  • Thank you in advance for the help I zan ! the examples really helped me out :-) - lovely_lovel Jul 27, 2010 flag
7 Vote
Nicole-B

Hi Lovely,

Actually, there is a difference between these words. Should means that it is a good idea to do something. It is more of a recommendation or an instruction to do something.

Must means that it is absolutely necessary that you do something. You don't have a choice in the matter and it is not a recommendation. It is a command.

The words "should" and "have to" or somewhat similar. However, "should" is more of a recommendation and "have to" is more of an obligation.

"You should brush your teeth three times a day." (recommendation)

"You have to do your homework." (obligation)

"You must past this test or else you will fail the course."(necessity)

Hopefully, these examples will help. smile

3 Vote
00494ed7

The difference between should and must can be summarized like this: You should do that means It is advisable (recommended) that you do that. You must do that means You are forced (compelled) to do that. So, the main difference is that between advice and obligation.

2 Vote
FELIZ77

There are no differences, essentially, between the meaning of 'must' and 'have to' in English spoken in England

For example:

="You must tidy your rooms ! " said the young mother to her children. is the same as saying :

= You have to tidy your rooms" said the young mother to her children

("íTienes que arreglar sus dormitorios!" dijó la jovencita a sus niños

eg You should reepect your parents = You ought to

In the Collins English Dictionary and Thesaurus it says... ...about the word 'should' : vb "The past tense of shall: used to indicate that an action is considered by the speaker to be obligatory (You should go) or to form the subjuntive mood."..

So in Summary: 1. Must/ have to is stronger than should and the person to whom the words are spoken is considered to have no choice whether to carry out the action or not eg "You must leave this building now for your safety!"

2 Should carries with the use of the word an expectation that the person will do what is right eg: "You should visit your friend in hospital"

I hope that this helps You Lovely Love grin

Corregid mi español, si necesario, por favor grin

2 Vote
Vaanz

Should is more suggestive than imperative.

Should is often used to talk about duty or to express logical probability or to give advice or to make recommendations

Eg: You should tell the truth.

Eg: He should be here soon – he left home at six.

Must and have to are more imperative in nature and generally expected not to be disobeyed. Must is a little stronger and a little more formal and sometimes more urgent.Have to is very common in American english.

Must is used mostly to talk about obligations, to talk about the feelings and wishes of the speaker and hearer and for logical conclusions also.

Eg: I must finish this presentation by tomorrow. (I want to finish it)

With "have to" the obligation comes from somewhere else or for routines

Eg:I have to finish this presentation by tomorrow or my boss will be very mad at me. (My boss wants me to finish it)

Eg:I have to wear my ID card daily to office.

1 Vote
Lezipo

I'm no English major, but I am a native speaker. To me, "should" is more voluntary, like "ought to" or "hay que". "Have to" is stronger, it NEEDS to be done and it WILL be done. For me, "must" is between the two and can go either way, depending on the context and the intonation of the speaker.

I personally rarely use the word "must" in that context. I usually use it to say something like, "I must have forgotten", or "She must have left the keys in the car because I can't find them." I think in Spanish that is said, "debe de". But, that has nothing to do with your question, so I "should" writing.

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