|
ESL Forum:
Techniques and methods
in Language Teaching
Games, activities
and teaching ideas
Grammar and
Linguistics
Teaching material
Concerning
worksheets
Concerning
powerpoints
Concerning online
exercises
Make suggestions,
report errors
Ask for help
Message board
|
ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Modals - prohibition
Modals - prohibition
|
Chilvis
|
Modals - prohibition
|
|
Hi, I have a doubt as regards modals when we are talking about prohibition or about sth that is not possible. Should we use can īt or mustn īt? How do you explain this to teenagers?
For example:
You can īt / mustn īt park here. Can īt you see the sign, Tom? Parking is forbidden.
I īd choose mustn īt but I īm not sure...  |
10 Aug 2010
|
|
|
|
GIOVANNI
|
|
Both can īt and musn īt are used for prohibition.
Can㦙 tells us that something is against the rules. Mustn㦙 is usually used when the obligation comes from the person who is speaking.
|
10 Aug 2010
|
|
|
sulekra
|
In your example the correct option is can īt, as the person speaking probably isn īt responsible for the rule or putting the sign up. As Giovanni said, mustn īt would be used when the obligation comes from the person speaking.
Mustn īt would be possible if the person speaking owns the property and put up a sign as well. eg. You mustn īt park on the lawn! I even put up a sign to stop people driving over my precious prize-winning daisies! But it still sounds more like īstrong obligation � than īpermission/prohibition �.
Hope some of that helps;)
|
10 Aug 2010
|
|
|
Chilvis
|
|
Thank you Giovanni and sulekra, you were very helpful.
I knew about the fact that must is used for obligation coming from the speaker, as the main difference with have to, but I didn īt realise it was the same in the negative form.
Thanks!!!  |
10 Aug 2010
|
|
|
jannabanna
|
|
As a native speaker I would say that you could use either can īt or mustn īt in your example: You can īt park there = you are not allowed to or You mustn īt park there = it īs forbidden. It boils down to the same thing doesn īt it?
In other sentences there would be more of a difference.
I can īt go out tonight = I īm not allowed to (we could NOT say - I mustn īt go out tonight unless we meant - I must stay in - I īm expecting a phone call or there īs a good programme on TV.)
Other than that I agree with the others.
Janet
|
10 Aug 2010
|
|
|
Chilvis
|
|
Thank you Janet!
I really appreciate native speakers � contribution
You are all very kind! |
11 Aug 2010
|
|
|
