Talk:must

I've noticed some authors using must as though it is a simple past verb. For example in w:The Left Hand of Darkness, but elsewhere too. Theshibboleth 02:37, 11 January 2006 (UTC)

Usage Note

Could we add a usage note on the seemingly superfluous, but formerly common "must needs"? JodianWarrior 01 March 2015

We probably should do that for needs must, as must stands in for it must be done in that phrase. I'm not sure we need it for must needs though. --Overlordnat1 (talk) 08:43, 22 April 2023 (UTC)

some errors

"Must cannot be used to indicate neither logical certainty, nor obligation in the past." For a start that's a double negative: "Not neither A nor B" is wrong, "Is neither A nor B" or "Not either A or B" are both ok. Secondly, it claims that must can't indicate logical certainty (or, can't in the past: the sentence is unclear). Thsi seems false, since : "I picked one of two options, and it wasn't the first. It must have been the second."

So I changed that line.

"(law) Always a directive when used together with apply(application): No one can make you apply for anything." Doesn't say what or who's law, and seems false anyway: "You must apply for a visa before entering the country", "you must apply existing law in this situation" both sound like imperatives to me. I assume by "make" the author meant "punish you if you do not". But in the UK at least a dog, TV, gun etc owner who has failed to apply for a relevant license will be fined. If they have applied for, but do not hold the license, they may not be; therefore it is the act of applying that is a "must".

"(Have two sense: imperative or directive)" Poor grammar. The whole section wasn't terribly clear: munged and expanded.DewiMorgan 13:48, 27 June 2008 (UTC)

Must not vs mustn't

Is there any nuance of meaning the usage note should state about must not vs mustn't? --Backinstadiums (talk) 12:40, 21 February 2020 (UTC)

intr (Archaic) To be required or obliged to go

"I must from hence" (Shakespeare). --Backinstadiums (talk) 18:12, 28 July 2020 (UTC)

The past tense of “must” is also “must”.

Is that true also of the negative must not / mustn't? --Backinstadiums (talk) 19:37, 14 September 2020 (UTC)

should have

Should have is the direct past tense of should. However, must/might/could have show probability. Thus, to show the past tense of must for obligation/advice, we have to either use had to or should have. Must have means that the only possible explanation is that it happened. Might/could have means that it is possible that it happened.
Obligation	Present: You must finish your essay by Friday. Past:	You should have finished your essay by Friday.
Probability	Present: He must be telling the truth. (The only possible explanation is that he is telling the truth.) Past:	He must have been telling the truth. (The only possible explanation is that he was telling the truth.)
Source 

--Backinstadiums (talk) 23:40, 14 November 2020 (UTC)

Obligation can also be reported with had to and would have to, The doctor said I must / had to / would have to stop smoking --Backinstadiums (talk) 17:19, 11 December 2020 (UTC)

American usage

I heard an American-born woman (on Youtube) describing for German audiences that Americans view "must" as impolite, strictly ordering und unusual in daily life. Universal-Interessierter (talk) 15:46, 11 March 2024 (UTC)