What am I suppost to say?

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Xanthos

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Hello there!:)

Could someone please tell me what’s the difference between «What have I got to do?» and «What am I supposed to do?»? And, what’s the corrisponding question using «must»?

P.S. Is the position of that «please» correct?
 

Raymott

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That's a very difficult set of questions, and there's no simple solution. The modal verbs "have to, should, supposed to, must, need to" etc. can have very similar meanings.
Put simply (and generalising), if you "have got to" do something, you 'have to' do it (a variant of the first), and you 'must' do it. These all mean a strict obligation to do it. "What must I do?" = "What do I have to do?"
If you are "supposed to" do something, this carries less of an obligation. It means you 'should' do it, 'you 'ought to' do it.
"You are to do something" is even less clear.

But often the lines are blurred. And what one person thinks you 'must' do, another might think you merely 'should' do.
For example whether "You must obey the law" and "You should obey the law" is true, depends more upon your philosophy of life than grammar.
If you're still unclear, you could ask some specific questions with examples.
Yes, the position of 'please' is perfect.
 

Xanthos

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Thank you very much, it’s clear!
 

Rover_KE

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Your appreciation is welcome, Xanthos, but there is no need to write a new post to say Thank you. Simply click the Thank button on any posts you find helpful. It means that we don't have to open the thread again to read your new post and then find that it doesn't include any new information or an additional question. It saves everybody's time.​


 

SoothingDave

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Is "suppost" a BrE variant? It is odd to me.
 

Rover_KE

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No. It's wrong.
 

emsr2d2

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For Xanthos - note the correct spelling of "supposed" and "corresponding".
 

MikeNewYork

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I suspect "suppost" comes from mishearing, like "could of" and "would of".
 
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