D Context Write: Put in the missing preferences. KNOW YOURSELF!

Most parents (their children not decide)1… woud rather their children didn’t decide to join the acting profession because it is so hard to earn a living. They (their children choose)2… secure, well-paid jobs. But if you ask actors themselves, they always tell you there is nothing they (do)3…An actor is a person who (be)4… a different man or woman. An actor (talk, walk, and behave)5… like someone else.

That's what acting is about. Many actors (be called)6… something other than their real names. The great American comic actor Claude William Dukenfield (be called)7… W.C. Fields, which was the name he adopted when he became an actor. Fields was eccentric and (live)8… in a world in which there were no dogs or children. He used to wear a funny top hat and carry a walking-stick. He loved to pretend to be other people in real life as well. He opened bank accounts all over America using comic names. He died in 1946 and the epitaph he wrote for his tombstone clearly expressed a healthy preference for life: 'On the whole, I (be)9… in Philadelphia!'

11.9 'It's advisable...'/'It's necessary...'

11.9A 'It's advisable' - 'It's necessary': 'a scale of choice' [> LEG n.47]

We can say what, in our opinion, is advisable or necessary on a scale which shows how much choice there is. We use the following words to give advice or say what is necessary:

1 Should and ought to (= in my opinion it's advisable, but there is some choice): You should see a doctor. You ought to vote in the next election. (=That's my advice, but ignore it if you want to.)

2 Had better is stronger, even a warning: You'd better see a doctor. (= That's my urgent advice. There may be consequences if you ignore it.)

3 Have to, have got to (less formal) and must (= in my opinion, you have no choice): You have to/have got to/must see a doctor. (= That's the strongest advice I can give you. Don't ignore it!) [compare > 11.10A]

Write:

Tick the sentences N or A that mean 'it is/it was advisable' or 'it is/it was necessary'advisable.

1 You should listen more carefully. A 2 I must get to the meeting before 7.30… 3 I'd better hurry, or I'll be late… 4 They should have taken umbrellas with them… 5 She had to complete the test in ten minutes… 6 We ought to have stopped for a meal on the way…

11.9B 'Must', 'have to' and 'have got to' [> LEG 11 48]

1 We often use must, have to and have got to in place of each other, but sometimes not.

2 We tend to prefer must:

- when we refer to ourselves (with I/we): I really must weed this garden.

- with you to express urgency: You must phone home at once.

- in public notices, etc.: Cyclists must dismount.

- (= Can't you stop yourself?): Must you interrupt?

- pressing invitations or advice: You must come and see us. You must repair that fence.

3 We often use have to (or have got to) to refer to outside authority: I have (got) to pay my road tax soon.

 

Write: Supply the forms must or have (got) to which 'feel right' in these sentences. Sometimes more than one form is possible.

1 We really must do something about having this house decorated. 2 We … pay this electricity bill by the end of the week.

3 You… write and let us know you've arrived safely. 4 I … be at my desk by 9.00 every morning. 5 We always … clock in when we arrive at work. 6 ALL VISITORS … REPORT TO THE DUTY OFFICER. 7 … you always slam the door when you come in? 8 You really … come and see the new extension to our house some day.

11.9C Expressing necessity in other tenses [> LEG 11.50-51,11.46]

1 Must can refer to the present or the future: I must speak to him today. I must speak to him tomorrow.

2 Must is not a 'complete verb', so we use have to to make up its 'missing parts' [> 11.1 B]:

I shall/will have to phone her tomorrow, (or I must phone her tomorrow.) (future).

I had to spend the day in a meeting, (past)

I have had to tell you before, (present perfect)

I am having to/I have been having to get up earlier this year, (progressive forms)

3 Had to shows that we couldn't avoid doing something: I had to leave at six. (and I did)

Should have shows we've failed to do something: I should have left at six. (and I didn't)

Write: Use a construction with have to in place of the words in italics.

1 It will be necessary for him to try harder if he wants to win the prize. He will have to. 2 It has been necessary for them to save hard to buy their new hi-fi… 3 Because of the snow she has been finding it necessary to walk to college… 4 It had already been necessary for us to clear the office floor twice before the boss asked us to clear it again 5 It would have been necessary for me to pay twice as much to travel first class… 6 We are finding it necessary to cut back on staff because of a shortage of orders…

11.9D Context: Put in will have to, must, having to, has to, should, had to, have to and should have. Use each one at least once. ARIJABA! The Post Office in Britain is famous for getting letters and parcels to their destinations. The problem is that we the public 1 have to observe the rules. For example, we2… put a stamp on a letter. If we don't, the recipient3… pay double. We often see the sign ALL LETTERS 4… BE CORRECTLY ADDRESSED. These days, this means5… use postcodes. If you didn't use a postcode, it's no good complaining that your letter6… arrived sooner. Parcels are a problem because they7… be correctly packaged. If Aunt Sophie is going to send you a jar of your favourite jam, she 8… wrap it up well. The most important thing we 9 … do is to address our letters and parcels legibly and correctly. This means clear handwriting and correct spelling. What we 10… do and what we actually do are often miles apart. Recently, the Post Office 11… deliver a letter which showed a name followed by the word ARIJABA. What is this, do you think? Arabic? Hindustani? Wrong both times! Say it out loud and you'll see it's just plain (misspelt!) English: HARWICH HARBOUR!

11.10 'It isn't advisable...'/'It isn't necessary...'/it's forbidden...'

11.10A 'It isn't advisable' - 'It's forbidden': 'a scale of choice' [> LEG 11.54]

We can say what, in our opinion, is not advisable, or what is forbidden on a scale which shows how much choice there is. We use the following words [compare > 11.9A]:

1 Shouldn't and oughtn't to (= in my opinion it isn't advisable, but there is some choice): You shouldn't drive too fast. You oughtn't to drive too fast. (= That's my advice, but ignore it if you want to.)

2 Had better not is stronger, even a warning: You'd better not lose your passport.(= That's my urgent advice. There may be consequences if you ignore it.)

3 Can't and mustn't (= you have no choice: it's forbidden [> 11 3B]): You can't stop on a motorway. You mustn't stop on a motorway. (= it's against the law)

Write: Match A and B to show the effect of the verbs. B: a) 'not advisable' – warning b) 'forbidden' – law c) 'not advisable' – personal d) 'not possible'

A: 1 You mustn't park near a zebra crossing. B 2 You shouldn't eat so much chocolate cake… 3 You can't use that footpath. It's closed… 4 You had better not be late for the lecture. …

 

11.10B 'Mustn't', 'needn't', 'don't have to', 'haven't got to' [> LEG 11.55]:

1 Must, have to, have got to generally mean the same in the affirmative [> 11.9B]. But mustn't never means the same as don't have to/haven't got to.

2 Mustn't means 'it's forbidden' [> 11.3B, 11.5B]: Life belts must not be removed! (no choice)

3 We can use needn't, don't have to and haven't got to in place of each other to mean 'it isn't necessary': I needn't/don't have to/haven't got to go to the office tomorrow, (choice)