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>Sender:       Assembly for the Teaching of English Grammar
>              <[log in to unmask]>
>Poster:       Marie Nelson <[log in to unmask]>
>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>Alan asked:
>
> My question, then, is: can you use "must" in the
>past, particularly since> the context makes it clear that the author
>is referring to people who lived> long ago?> > Here's part of the
>sentence:> >
>
>"Since women were an integral part of a group that had not taken the>
>concept of individualism to its extremes [...] their behavior *must*>
>reflect their respect for tradition."> > Anxiously awaiting your
>opinions,> > Alan Hynds> -------------------
>---------------------
>
>Alan, It's been years since I've studied linguistics and various kinds of
>grammars, but if my memorry serves me correctly, must is often viewed as a
>modal, the past tense of which--mought, I believe--is now archaic. If I
>were writing that sentence, I would use "must have reflected."  If you
>want to make the meaning still stronger, I suppose you could use "had to
>have reflected."  I find thee latter a bit too strong for (most)
>historical reconstructions, but as the translator, I realize, you have an
>obligation to reflect the author's intent.
>
>Marie
>-------------------
>Marie Wilson Nelson
>National-Louis University
>[log in to unmask]
 
Hi,
Allow me to chip in. It used to be possible to use *must* in a past context
(i.e. I knew I must be on time otherwise I would ...). This usage is now
pretty much obsolete. As to *must have reflected*, I beg to differ with
Marie Wilson and find that its clearly epitstemic overtones make it an
unlikely candidate (in fact, it rarely occurs with deontic meaning in other
than future or hypothetical contexts; i.e. (If) You must have finished
writing your essay when I return). My suggestion for a past time deontic
modal expression, would be : *could not but reflect*. Hope this helps.
Best,
Marc
 
 
 
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Marc Fryd       Departement d'Etudes Anglophones (FORELL-AIT),
                Faculte des Lettres et des Langues, Universite de Poitiers,
                95 avenue du Recteur Pineau,86022 Poitiers, France
Personal phone: (33) (0)5 49 43 79 66
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