Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Speech acts | 689

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[A notices how B’s jumper has become prematurely faded]

A: I’ve just noticed. Do you know what’s happened to your jumper? Have you

seen it? 

B: That always happens to my jumpers. 

A: That’s dreadful though. 

Could you not send it back

? 

B: Send it back. 

A: Yeah. Brand new isn’t it? 

B: I’ve only washed it once. 

A: I’d send it back.

B: Would you? 

A: Mm. 

B: Would you really? 

A: Mm. That shouldn’t happen for years. 

Declaratives with must

414c

Must

occurs in warnings and strong advice-giving contexts:

[A is a health visitor; speaker B has been unwell]

A: Oh how are you? Better? 

B: A bit better than, what was it? Last week. 

A: Yes but you seem to be losing weight rapidly. 

B: Well, I can only eat certain things. 

A: I mean 

you must take care

.

A: I can give you some oven cleaner. But the problem with it is 

you must make

sure you get all of it off

. And 

they mustn’t use it while you’re doing it

because it’s very strong. Don’t get it on your hands either. It’s really very very

strong. And 

you must make sure it all washes off before they use it again

. 

B: Okay. 

Must

is considerably stronger and more forceful than should or could in advice-

giving contexts and is less frequent in everyday conversational contexts.