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ESL forum >
Grammar and Linguistics > Modals - prohibition
Modals - prohibition

Chilvis
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Modals - prohibition
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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 愒 or mustn 愒? How do you explain this to teenagers?
For example:
You can 愒 / mustn 愒 park here. Can 愒 you see the sign, Tom? Parking is forbidden.
I 悲 choose mustn 愒 but I 惴 not sure...  |
10 Aug 2010
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GIOVANNI
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Both can 愒 and musn 愒 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.
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10 Aug 2010
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sulekra
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In your example the correct option is can 愒, as the person speaking probably isn 愒 responsible for the rule or putting the sign up. As Giovanni said, mustn 愒 would be used when the obligation comes from the person speaking. Mustn 愒 would be possible if the person speaking owns the property and put up a sign as well. eg. You mustn 愒 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 愀trong obligation � than 愎ermission/prohibition �. Hope some of that helps;)
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10 Aug 2010
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Chilvis
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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 愒 realise it was the same in the negative form.
Thanks!!!  |
10 Aug 2010
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jannabanna
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As a native speaker I would say that you could use either can 愒 or mustn 愒 in your example: You can 愒 park there = you are not allowed to or You mustn 愒 park there = it 愀 forbidden. It boils down to the same thing doesn 愒 it?
In other sentences there would be more of a difference.
I can 愒 go out tonight = I 惴 not allowed to (we could NOT say - I mustn 愒 go out tonight unless we meant - I must stay in - I 惴 expecting a phone call or there 愀 a good programme on TV.)
Other than that I agree with the others.
Janet
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10 Aug 2010
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Chilvis
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Thank you Janet!
I really appreciate native speakers � contribution
You are all very kind! |
11 Aug 2010
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