"Must you do that ? It is really annoying!

Question

Could anyone give me an explanation about the above sentence which I came across in my dictionary, especially the Modal Verb " must" here? Could I replace " Must " with some other Modal Verbs like "Could " or "Should" which I think more suitable here.
Thank you for any concerns and information about this post in advance.

MrPedantic · Accepted Answer

Hello Jacklong

'Must you do that?' here = 'is it necessary for you to do that?' - with the implication 'I can see no rational reason for you to do that, therefore the only explanation is that you have no choice in the matter!'

I suppose there is a element of sarcasm buried deep in the phrase.

'Should you be doing that?' would be a more polite way of putting it.

MrP

CalifJim · Answer

There are social conventions in English (and probably in other languages) in which we don't say literally what we mean. We leave it to the listener to figure out the implications of the words we use instead of saying what we really mean. The purpose of such conventions is to avoid always ordering people around!

Two concepts which are frequently used this way are in fact opposites of one another.

Asking someone if he has the ability to do something when it is obvious he does is a way of saying "Do this!"

Asking someone if he has a need or obligation to do something when it is obvious that he does not is a way of saying "Don't do this!"

Can you pass the salt? Could you pass the salt? Can you reach the salt? Could you reach the salt? Can you step aside? Could you lend me that pen? Could you be more considerate of your brother? (= Pass the salt, (please), several ways; Step aside; Lend me that pen; Be more considerate ...)

Must you spill the salt all over the table? Must you do that? Do you have to track your muddy boots into the kitchen? Must you always have everything your own way? Did you have to tell everyone about that embarrassing episode? Do you really need to tie up the phone for an entire hour? (=Don't spill the salt ...; Don't do that!; Don't track your boots ...; Don't always insist on having everything your way!; You should not have told everyone ...; Don't tie up the phone ...)

CJ

Nona the brit · Answer

On the same theme, another way of making a request is to say 'I wouldn't mind...' or 'Do you want/would you like/shall we ...' which actually mean 'I want...

I wouldn't mind popping into Tescos/going the other route/borrowing that book/climbing that mountain mean I really want to pop into Tescos/go that way/read that book/climb that mountain.

Likewise, Do you want to stop for a coffee? can mean that my feet are killing me and I want to go and sit down and have a coffee in that shop right there, right now. Would you like to watch that film on TV before we go shopping? means I want to watch that film. Shall we go that way? means I want to go that way.

Making a strong demand or giving someone a direct order is very 'un-British'.

CalifJim · Answer

Unlike us Americans, Nona! Instead of "Do you want to stop for a coffee?", we say "Get your **** in that coffee shop right now and be quick about it if you know what's good for you!"

Does that ring true as the British impression of Americans?

King · Answer

And that would be the NICE way of saying it.

MrPedantic · Answer

Making a strong demand or giving someone a direct order is very 'un-British'.

And can only lead to umbrage.

Etiquette requires horrible embarrassment on both sides, as each party shuffles nervously round the Request In Question, till (at last!) someone else walks in, or the fire alarm goes off, or the world ends, and everyone can stop interacting and get back to the serious business of the paper-clip order ('paper-clip suggestion'?).

Needless to say, the Requesting Party is never quite sure whether the request has been successfully 'lodged', and so generally tends to go off and do it himself anyway. Meanwhile the 'requestee' has also performed whatever task was required, though slightly wrongly, since it would have been far too embarrassing to go and ask the RP what this or that point actually meant, thereby confirming (humiliation of humiliations) that one was indeed busily working on the RiQ.

And that's why you can't open a drawer in a British office without boxes of paper clips falling out everywhere.

CalifJim · Answer

When I visited the UK I had the impression it might be a fun place to live, but I had no idea it was that much fun!

MrPedantic · Answer

It all goes on behind closed doors, Jim.

On the outside—surly, damp, ill-fed.

On the inside—a seething mass of righteous indignation.

Off to order some paper clips now, goddammit.

Anonymous · Answer

great explanation sir .... do u know any web link where i can improve my English listening skills I am a movie buff sometime i cant follow the dialogue but with subtitle i can understand all 100 percent ..... here is my facebook link
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please do help me if u know anything special regarding this problem of mine

AlpheccaStars · Answer

One of your issues is using words that are not valid English words. The word "i" means the lowercase letter of the alphabet. It is not the personal pronoun "i."
The word "u" means the lowercase letter of the alphabet. "You" is the second person pronoun.
Also, use the shift key to capitalize the first word of a sentence.

"Must you do that ? It is really annoying!

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