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Ambiguous modal auxiliary: must
Ambiguous modal auxiliaries ...
1) MUST/ MUSTN'T: OBLIGATION or INTERDICTION: In both cases, the FREEDOM OF ACTION is denied.
- I must go now, as I still have a lot of homework to do. You mustn't prevent me from leaving...
2) But we may express a different meaning with the same modal: MUST / MUSTN'T = NEAR-CERTAINTY= I'm almost sure that...
- He must be sick because he never misses a class and hasn't arrived yet.
3) Now, WHAT if the sentence is in the PAST?
- Connie was obliged to open the door! (the modal here expresses an obligation in the past)
In the past, when MUST expresses a PAST OBLIGATION, you must use HAD TO:
In that case, the sentence would be: => - Connie had to open the door because the dog was barking to come in!
OR: This sentence may mean: Most certainly, Connie opened the door => NEAR-CERTAINTY in the PAST:
- In this case, the near-certainty in the past will be expressed with: MUST + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
=> - Connie must have opened the door, because she was the only one to have the key. (no obligation, here.)
Only the context will enable you to make a good choice of the modal auxiliary.
Here we are ! I hope you'll never mistake those two different nuances of the same modal! I hope you'll do well!
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