You must be more motivated.

Status
Not open for further replies.

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
a is the answer for this question, but my student asked me if d could be an answer, but I said because of comparison of "more motivated", it can't be an answer. Maybe "You must motivated" can be an answer, but I'm not sure, What do you think?

M:I'm studying for tomorrow's exam. I can't slack off
W:________a________
a.Keep your nose to the grindstone
b.Provided it's part of the lecture notes.
c.Ask a classmate to explain the material
d.You must be more motivated.
 
Last edited:

dut_thinker

Junior Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2012
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Chinese
Home Country
China
Current Location
Japan
a is the answer for this question, but my student asked me if d could be an answer, but I said because of comparison of "more motivated", it can't be an answer. Maybe "You must motivated" can be an answer, but I'm not sure, What do you think?

M:I'm studying for tomorrow's exam. I can't slack off
W:________a________
a.Keep your nose to the grindstone
b.Provided it's part of the lecture notes.
c.Ask a classmate to explain the material
d.You must be more motivated.

"Keep your nose to the grindstone" is an informal expression. It means "to work in earnest". So I don't think d can be an answer.

'a ' isthe answer to this question.
You like 'but' so much.

not a native speaker; not a teacher;
 

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
"Keep your nose to the grindstone" is an informal expression. It means "to work in earnest". So I don't think d can be an answer.

'a ' isthe answer to this question.
You like 'but' so much.

not a native speaker; not a teacher;
There must be another reason why d can't be an answer.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Clearly the student IS motivated. He has just said he's studying and can't slack off.

A: I'm in the midst of a 5-mile walk.
B1: Youl should get more exercise. -- Does that make sense?
B2: Keep on going! -- That makes sense.

In your examples, D would be like B1. Why tell someone they need more motivation when they are right in the midst of doing what needs to be done? A is like B2 - a word of encouragement to keep at it.
 

keannu

VIP Member
Joined
Dec 27, 2010
Member Type
Student or Learner
Native Language
Korean
Home Country
South Korea
Current Location
South Korea
Clearly the student IS motivated. He has just said he's studying and can't slack off.

A: I'm in the midst of a 5-mile walk.
B1: Youl should get more exercise. -- Does that make sense?
B2: Keep on going! -- That makes sense.

In your examples, D would be like B1. Why tell someone they need more motivation when they are right in the midst of doing what needs to be done? A is like B2 - a word of encouragement to keep at it.

Does this "must" mean "obligation(have to)" or "certainty" in this context?

M:I'm studying for tomorrow's exam. I can't slack off
d.You must be more motivated.
 

Barb_D

Moderator
Staff member
Joined
Mar 12, 2007
Member Type
Other
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
United States
Obligation. LIke the "should in my example.

If it was a certainty, it the "more" wouldn't make sense.

You must be a very motivated student! -- THAT would make sense, because I'm commenting that based on my observation of you, it's the only logical conclusion. You're studying hard, you're obviously self motivated.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top