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

You must and you’ll have to

419c

You must

and you’ll have to are often used to give non-specific invitations:

A: And 

you must come down to Barr at some stage or another

.

B: It would be nice actually. I’d like to. 

A: You know, for a weekend. 

B: It would be good. 

A: Or even a day or two. 

B: Yeah. Yeah. I might do that. 

A: You know. You should. 

B: Yeah. 

A: Just give me a ring, cos I won’t mind. 

B: Yeah. 

A: Go out for dinner or something as well. 

B: Perfect. That’s great. Yeah.

(note the typical friendly, positive reply to a non-specific invitation: it would be

nice/good

)

A: 

You’ll have to come round for a coffee.

B: Yeah.

PROMISES, UNDERTAKINGS

420

Promises and undertakings are concerned with committing oneself to a particular

course of action which the listener usually believes will happen. If the course of

action is not followed, it will constitute a breaking of the promise.

702 | Speech acts

Cambridge Grammar of English

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