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Ask for help > Mustn ´t or don ´t have to?
Mustn ´t or don ´t have to?
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mari3lla
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Mustn ´t or don ´t have to?
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Dear colleagues, I need you help. Teaching the difference between modal MUSTN ´T and don ´t have to is quite simple. But I ´m stuck on this sentence and I need your help. You.................................. go to school tomorrow, it ´s a holiday! Which is correct: MUSTN ´T or DON ´T HAVE TO. Thanks a lot |
11 Dec 2016
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chalco
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definitely don ´t have to because mustn ´t indicates something that is strictly forbidden while don ´t have to is an absence of obligation |
11 Dec 2016
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mari3lla
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That ´s what I thought too but with some doubts... Thanks again and have a great Sunday! |
11 Dec 2016
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martinasvabova
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I think you mean the difference between don´t have to and needn ´t, not mustn ´t.
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11 Dec 2016
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a2king
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DON ´T HAVE To is my choice. because DON ´T HAVE TO means "you don ´t need to do that". In this circumstance, your sentence means "Today is a holiday, you don ´t need to go to school."
By the way, I have got 1 question: What is the difference between "don ´t need" and "needn ´t"? |
11 Dec 2016
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FrauSue
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a2king - Officially, "don ´t need" would be a main verb whereas "needn ´t" would be a modal. In reality, it ´s a bit more blurred. You don ´t need a hat. The sun isn ´t too strong. (Main verb.) You needn ´t bother ringing beforehand. We ´re sure to be in. (Modal.) BUT You don ´t need to bother ringing beforehand. - this is also perfectly ok. I hope that someone else (Bruce??) has a better response for you! |
11 Dec 2016
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yanogator
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Thanks for inviting me in, FrauSue, but we don ´t use "needn ´t" in the US. Bruce |
11 Dec 2016
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a2king
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Bruce - so it means that in the British English, there are not differences between "don ´t need" and "needn ´t", but in the American English, there is only "don ´t need". Is that correct? |
25 Jan 2017
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yanogator
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a2king, That is essentially correct. We do have "needn ´t" in the US, but it is very rarely used. FrauSue explained it well. There is a difference. One would say "You don ´t need a hat", but not "You needn ´t a hat", so there is definitely a difference. Bruce |
25 Jan 2017
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