Watch the video and then complete the Tasks.
Language level
Intermediate: B1
Upper intermediate: B2
Section menu
- Home
- Cursos en línea
- Habilidades
- Gramática
- Vocabulario
- Inglés para los negocios
- Inglés general
- IELTS
Comments
Nowadays, We need health for everyone!
Hi, I would like to know whether we say:
a) Everyone has to die one day.
or
b) Everyone is destined to die one day.
or
c) Everyone needs to die one day.
Please note that my question is in the following context:
If we say 'Everyone has to die.' or 'Everyone needs to die.' it sounds odd since 'has to' talks about obligation and necessity, while 'dying' is something that we're bound to face; i.e. it is our fate, not the obligation. That is, what I want to ask is the sense of the sentence, not the grammar itself. In short here I am referring to death as an ultimate fate, not the necessity.
Please reply
Hi Zeeshan Siddiqii,
All of these sentences are grammatically correct and all makes sense. English is a flexible language and structures can be used to represent a range of meanings. Thus, while 'have to' is used for obligation, it can also be used to describe things which are unavoidable:
In all of these examples 'needs to' can be used without any change in meaning.
'Destined to' has a much more specific sense. It refers only to something in the future (at least relative to the moment when something is destined) and sees the future as an inescapable fate. It also has a more literary and portentous tone. In the examples above it would not be appropriate for the first two sentences, which have a sense of requirement rather than fate, but it could be used in the last sentence.
I would say that in the example you gave the choice is really one of style rather than meaning.
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
Thanx
i need a new telephone .
i need to go to England
i dont need to watch tv .
I need to learn English. Thanks a lot for The LearnEnglish Team.
Hello saagi,
Please take a look at our Help pages for tips and advice. Just click on the links!
Best wishes,
Peter
The LearnEnglish Team
I think a person born in a country is automatically a native of that country.
oops
I mean (obligation mean duty ) it's something i have to do it.
thanks a Million
Dear teacher
could you please tell me what is the difference between commitment and obligation because in our language we have one meaning for this two words ,(or obligation become like duty).
Regards
Ali Ibrahiem
Pages