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You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.You should upgrade or use an alternative browser. What am I suppost to say?

• Thread starter Xanthos
• Start date Jun 19, 2014
• Views : 4,174

Status Not open for further replies. X

Xanthos

Member

Joined Jun 17, 2014 Member Type Student or Learner Native Language Italian Home Country Italy Current Location Italy Hello there! Could someone please tell me what’s the difference between «What have I got to do?» and «What am I supposed to do?»? And, what’s the corrisponding question using «must»? P.S. Is the position of that «please» correct?

Raymott

VIP Member

Joined Jun 29, 2008 Member Type Academic Native Language English Home Country Australia Current Location Australia That's a very difficult set of questions, and there's no simple solution. The modal verbs "have to, should, supposed to, must, need to" etc. can have very similar meanings. Put simply (and generalising), if you "have got to" do something, you 'have to' do it (a variant of the first), and you 'must' do it. These all mean a strict obligation to do it. "What must I do?" = "What do I have to do?" If you are "supposed to" do something, this carries less of an obligation. It means you 'should' do it, 'you 'ought to' do it. "You are to do something" is even less clear. But often the lines are blurred. And what one person thinks you 'must' do, another might think you merely 'should' do. For example whether "You must obey the law" and "You should obey the law" is true, depends more upon your philosophy of life than grammar. If you're still unclear, you could ask some specific questions with examples. Yes, the position of 'please' is perfect. X

Xanthos

Member

Thread starter Joined Jun 17, 2014 Member Type Student or Learner Native Language Italian Home Country Italy Current Location Italy Thank you very much, it’s clear! R

Rover_KE

Moderator

Staff member Joined Jun 20, 2010 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country England Current Location England Your appreciation is welcome, Xanthos, but there is no need to write a new post to say Thank you. Simply click the Thank button on any posts you find helpful. It means that we don't have to open the thread again to read your new post and then find that it doesn't include any new information or an additional question. It saves everybody's time.​ S

SoothingDave

Moderator

Staff member Joined Apr 17, 2009 Member Type Interested in Language Native Language American English Home Country United States Current Location United States Is "suppost" a BrE variant? It is odd to me. R

Rover_KE

Moderator

Staff member Joined Jun 20, 2010 Member Type Retired English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country England Current Location England No. It's wrong.

emsr2d2

Moderator

Staff member Joined Jul 28, 2009 Member Type English Teacher Native Language British English Home Country UK Current Location UK For Xanthos - note the correct spelling of "supposed" and "corresponding".

MikeNewYork

No Longer With Us (RIP)

Joined Nov 13, 2002 Member Type Academic Native Language American English Home Country United States Current Location United States I suspect "suppost" comes from mishearing, like "could of" and "would of". Status Not open for further replies. Share: Facebook X (Twitter) Reddit Pinterest Tumblr WhatsApp Email Share Link

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