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SHOULD / MUST / HAVE TO
SHOULD
- "You should" is always translated as "deberÃas".
- It is used to give advice (in affirmative or negative):
You should go to the doctor if you have a temperature.
You shouldn't go out if you're feeling dizzy.
MUST
- "You must" is translated as "debes".
- It is used to express an obligation (affirmative) or a prohibition (negative):
You must treat others as you would like them to treat you.
You mustn't smoke in a public place since they passed the anti-tobacco law.
- It is also used for a very insistent piece of advice:
You must see a doctor immediately if you feel a pain in your heart.
HAVE TO
- "You have to" means "tienes que"
- In the affirmative, its meaning is very similar to that of "must", but it is used to express a necessity rather than an obligation:
You have to study a lot to become a doctor.
You have to break some eggs to make an omelette.
- However, in the negative it is used to express absence of obligation only:
You don't have to finish this now if you don't want to.
- Contrast MUSTN'T and DON'T HAVE TO in these examples:
You don't have to copy the instructions. (= It is not necessary to copy the instructions.)
You mustn't copy the instructions, otherwise you will not have enough time to finish the exercise. (= It is a bad idea to copy the instructions.)
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