Question

What modal auxiliary is used to suggest necessity or obligation?

• A. shall
• B. can
• C. Might
• D. Must

Answer 1

Answer:

D. Must

Modal Auxiliary Verb 'Must'

• The modal auxiliary verb 'must' is primarily used to express necessity or obligation. It indicates that something is required or mandatory.
• Necessity: It suggests that there is no alternative or choice. For example, "You must complete this assignment by Friday." This implies a requirement that cannot be avoided.
• Obligation: It conveys a strong sense of duty or responsibility, often imposed by rules, laws, or moral principles. For example, "Students must wear their ID cards at all times." This is an obligation for students.
• Strong Recommendation/Insistence: 'Must' can also be used to give a very strong recommendation or to insist on something, implying that it is highly advisable. For example, "You must see this movie; it's fantastic!"
• Deduction/Certainty: In certain contexts, 'must' can indicate a strong logical conclusion or certainty about a present situation. For example, "He hasn't eaten all day; he must be hungry."
• Distinction from 'Have to': While 'must' and 'have to' often express similar ideas of obligation, 'must' typically conveys an internal obligation or the speaker's authority, whereas 'have to' often implies an external obligation or circumstance. However, this distinction can be subtle and usage may overlap.
• Usage in Questions: Questions using 'must' are less common for asking about necessity and often express surprise or annoyance. For example, "Must you make so much noise?"
• Negative Form ('Mustn't'): The negative form 'mustn't' expresses prohibition or that something is forbidden. For example, "You mustn't smoke here."
• Past Tense: 'Must' does not have a standard past tense form for expressing past obligation. Instead, 'had to' is typically used. For example, "Yesterday, I had to go to the bank."

Exam Relevance:

• Understanding the nuances of modal verbs like 'must' is crucial for identifying the correct answer in grammar sections of competitive exams.
• Questions often test the ability to distinguish between necessity, obligation, prohibition, and deduction based on the context.
• Pay attention to the sentence structure and the surrounding words to determine the intended meaning of 'must'.