Meaning of Must
The word “must” is a modal verb that is used to express a stronger obligation, necessity, or certainty. It is also used when we speak about rules or laws. It is mostly used for expressing a stronger point of view.
Usage of Must
- It is used to express an obligation. For example, we must study for our upcoming final exams.
- It is used to express necessity. For example, you must have a minimum pass percentage of 50 percent to be eligible for this job.
- It is also used to express certainty. For example, she must be very tired of all the happenings around her.
- It is used when we speak about rules or laws. For example, everyone must follow the traffic rules.
Examples
- We must not leave the entire work to her.
- You must try this dress; it looks good on you.
- You must wear your seat belt while you are driving a car.
- He must reach the examination hall fifteen minutes before the exam.
Should |
Must |
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It has a lower degree of emphasis. | It has a high degree of emphasis. |
It is less formal compared to “must.” | It is more formal compared to “should.” |
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Examples:
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Difference between Should and Must
Should and Must: Have you ever gotten confused while using the terms “should” and “must”? Both of them are modal auxiliary verbs in English, where modal verbs are used to express ability, necessity, conditionality, possibility, and permission. “Should” is used to express conditionality, whereas “must” is used to express a strong obligation. In this article, we learn about the difference between “should” and “must.”