must

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[modal verb] (1) to express obligation, necessity, or strong recommendation: I really must get a new computer. • You must try this restaurant: it’s fantastic. • Let me do the dishes.~ No, you’re ill. You mustn’t.
(2) to make deductions: That must be Tom’s jacket. • They’re late: they must have got lost • It must be raining: everyone’s wet.
[noun]: something that it is necessary to do or have: A sunhat is an absolute must on the beach.

⇒ had

Note: The contraction of must + not is mustn’t.

↓ Grammar patterns | Collocations | Set Phrases ↓

Grammar patterns:

1 must | + bare infinitive

I must get a haircut.
You must pay more attention.
The government must act now.

♦ to say what the speaker thinks is necessary

You must see Shrek 2: it’s hilarious.
We must eat here again.

♦ to make a strong recommendation

There’s the phone. ~ That must be Derek. He always phones around now.
The clock stopped. ~ It must need new batteries.

♦ to make strong deductions about present or future situations

2 must | + have | + past participle

Why wasn’t Peter at the meeting? ~ He must have forgotten.
It must have been 1998 when I last saw Jeremy.

♦ to make strong deductions about past situations

3 must | + be | + -ing

The lights are out. The film must be starting.
Look at the birds: they must be migrating.

♦ to make strong deductions about present situations that are in progress

4 must | + n’t/not | + verb

You mustn’t tell anyone I told you.
The children mustn’t play near the road.

♦ to say what is prohibited or what should not happen

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Collocations:

Must is often made more emphatic with really:

You really must get more exercise.
I really must do something about that door.

Must often goes with verbs like go, rush, dash, fly:

I’m sorry, it’s late. I must dash.
Look at the time. I must be going

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Set phrases:

• ‘I must say … ’

They’ve got some nice things in this shop, I must say.
I must say I thought their flat was a bit untidy.

♦ to emphasize what you are saying.

• ‘if you must […]’

I’m just going over to Terry’s place. ~ Well, if you must.
If you must smoke, can you smoke on the balcony?

To give permission for something you don’t agree with.

• ‘if you must know’

How much did you pay the hairdresser? ~ $50, if you must know.

♦ to indicate that someone is being too curious.

• ‘you must be joking’

The flight has been cancelled. ~ You must be joking.

♦ to express disbelief.

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