[Grammar] mustn't or can't ?

[nado92]

You ............. travel to America without an entry visa.
a) can't b) mustn't c) had to

Thanks in advance.

 

[Amigos4]

You ............. travel to America without an entry visa.
a) can't b) mustn't c) had to

Thanks in advance.

Which word would you insert? ;-)

 

[nado92]

Which word would you insert? ;-)

can't if the speaker is a friend.

mustn't if the speaker is a official.

 

[Amigos4]

can't if the speaker is a friend.

mustn't if the speaker is a official.

Nado, 'mustn't' isn't used very often in the US. 'Can't' is used more often than 'mustn't'.

See Changing the mood of a sentence (modals) - english-at-home.com for clarification.

 

[emsr2d2]

Nado, 'mustn't' isn't used very often in the US. 'Can't' is used more often than 'mustn't'.

See Changing the mood of a sentence (modals) - english-at-home.com for clarification.

"Must'nt" is used quite a lot in BrE, though!

However, in this example, I would choose "can't". They could have worded the sentence a little better by saying "You can't ENTER America without a visa", as opposed to "go to America". However, these days it's also true that you can't "go to" (ie travel to) America without a visa because airlines wouldn't actually allow you on the plane without the relevant documentation for entry.

 

[nado92]

thank you all.

 

[Amigos4]

"Must'nt" is used quite a lot in BrE, though!

emsr2d2, I am curious. In BrE is the first 't' in mustn't pronounced or, as in the US, it is silent?

 

[emsr2d2]

emsr2d2, I am curious. In BrE is the first 't' in mustn't pronounced or, as in the US, it is silent?

It's silent. (Sadly, the way a lot of people speak these days, the second one is silent too!) :-D

 

[Amigos4]

It's silent. (Sadly, the way a lot of people speak these days, the second one is silent too!) :-D

All the more reason to use 'can't' instead of 'mustn't'!!!! ;-):lol:

 

[Barb_D]

Isn't mustn't more of a moral imperative? You mustn't say such things! You mustn't go to a dinner party without a hostess gift. You mustn't touch this cake before our guests come over.

While can't is an impossibility? You simply are unable to do it.

 

[Amigos4]

Isn't mustn't more of a moral imperative? You mustn't say such things! You mustn't go to a dinner party without a hostess gift. You mustn't touch this cake before our guests come over.

While can't is an impossibility? You simply are unable to do it.

You are absolutely correct, Barb! (I just can't bring myself to say mustn't! The silent 't' drives me crazy!) ;-)
I prefer to use 'shouldn't' instead of 'mustn't'! :shock: