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]