modals: special difficulties (3)

3.- MUST/SHOULD?

Both can mean ‘deber’, but must is always stronger, more assertive than should, so use must for moral or legal obligation, rules, commands or strong advice:

You must switch off your mobile phone in the cinema – debes apagar tu móvil en el cine

You must smoke less – debes fumar menos

and use should for convenience or less strong advice:

You shouldn’t eat so many cakes – no deberías comer tantos pasteles.

Practice -3

* Complete with should or must as required

a.- You’re getting a pot belly; you ................ drink so much beer.

b.- There’s a school nearby, you ................ drive more slowly.

c.- He’s losing too much blood, we ............... call an ambulance at once.

d.- You work too hard, I think you ........................ slow down.

KEY TO PRACTICE -3

a.- shouldn’t; b.- must; c.- must; d.- should.