Should, must and have to: advice and rules: Spoken English: Zero to Fluent (Intermediate)

Word	Meaning	Hindi	Example
should	advice, a good idea	चाहिए	You should see a doctor.
shouldn't	not a good idea	नहीं चाहिए	You shouldn't eat so late.
must	strong rule or strong personal feeling	ज़रूर / अनिवार्य	You must carry your ID card.
have to / has to	a need or rule from outside	करना पड़ता है	I have to work on Saturdays.
mustn't	not allowed	बिलकुल नहीं करना	You mustn't smoke here.
don't have to	not needed (but allowed)	ज़रूरी नहीं	You don't have to pay; it's free.

You should take some rest.

Say it: yoo SHUD tayk sum REST

तुम्हें थोड़ा आराम करना चाहिए।

The "l" in should, could and would is silent.

You shouldn't skip breakfast.

Say it: yoo SHUD-unt SKIP BREK-fast

तुम्हें नाश्ता नहीं छोड़ना चाहिए।

What should I do?

Say it: wot SHUD ai DOO?

मुझे क्या करना चाहिए?

All passengers must wear a seat belt.

Say it: AWL PAS-en-jerz must WAIR a SEET belt

सभी यात्रियों को सीट बेल्ट पहनना अनिवार्य है।

I have to leave early today.

Say it: ai HAF to LEEV UR-lee to-DAY

मुझे आज जल्दी निकलना है।

"Have to" often sounds like "haf-ta". "Has to" sounds like "has-ta".

She has to take her mother to the hospital.

Say it: shee HAS to TAYK her MUH-ther to the HOS-pi-tal

उसे अपनी माँ को अस्पताल ले जाना है।

You don't have to come if you're busy.

Say it: yoo DOHNT HAF to KUM if yor BIZ-ee

अगर तुम व्यस्त हो तो आने की ज़रूरत नहीं।

You mustn't use your phone during the exam.

Say it: yoo MUS-unt yooz yor FOHN DYOOR-ing the ig-ZAM

परीक्षा के दौरान फ़ोन का इस्तेमाल बिलकुल मना है।

I had to wait for two hours.

Say it: ai HAD to WAYT for TOO OW-erz

मुझे दो घंटे इंतज़ार करना पड़ा।

"Must" has no past form. Use "had to" for the past.

Think of it like this: "Should" is like a friend's advice: you can ignore it. "Must" is like a traffic signal: you have to stop. "Mustn't" is a red light; "don't have to" is an empty road where you may go or not, your choice.

Careful: Mixing up "mustn't" and "don't have to" changes the meaning completely. "You mustn't come" = you are not allowed. "You don't have to come" = it's not necessary.

Careful: Do not say "You should to go" or "I must to go". No "to" after should and must. But "have to" always has "to".

Tip: Write the rules of your home, school or workplace: three with "must" or "have to", two with "mustn't", and two with "don't have to".

Should, must and have to: advice and rules

Explanation

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In real life: At the doctor's clinic

Practice (0/4 done)

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