Micro-listening
Must or can attend: choose the right verb
What is the difference between must attend and have to attend?
Must is a modal verb of necessity and obligation. In hiring, employers use it for non-negotiable steps such as identification checks or attendance at a final assessment. Can is a modal verb of possibility and permission. Employers use it to offer choices, such as attending in person or meeting by video.
Key points
- Choose must when there is an obligation and no alternative exists.
- Choose can when there is permission or more than one acceptable path.
- Keep the main verb in its base form after both modals, and check whether an if clause sets a condition before you select the verb.
This lesson has 5 stages. You can stop at any time and continue later.
Stage 1 of 5
Understand
What it means, when to use it, and mistakes to avoid.
Examples
All applicants must attend an interview before receiving a formal offer.
Why it works: Must indicates that attending the interview is an absolute requirement.
2 more examples
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Shortlisted candidates can attend the interview online if they live in another city.
Can offers an approved alternative method of meeting.
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You can reschedule your interview time once if you notify human resources forty-eight hours ahead.
Can grants permission under a specific condition.
Read the full guide
Decide if attendance is required
Use must when attending an event is mandatory. If an employer or school states that you must attend an interview, skipping it means you cannot get the job or university place. Must creates a strict condition where no alternative exists unless the speaker explicitly provides one.
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Final candidates must attend the morning interview.
Why it works: The morning interview is an unavoidable requirement.
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Every applicant must present valid identification at the front desk.
Why it works: Showing identification is a mandatory rule.
Your turn
A hiring manager tells a job applicant that an interview is mandatory. Which sentence expresses this correctly?
Answer: You must attend the interview to continue the hiring process.
Show the answer
Answer: You must attend the interview to continue the hiring process.
Must expresses a mandatory requirement, whereas can only suggests an option or possibility.
Identify choices and permissions
Use can when you describe an opportunity, an available option, or explicit permission. When a company says you can attend an interview remotely, they are giving you approval to choose that format. The action is possible and permitted, but nobody is forcing you to take only that option.
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Applicants can attend the session in person or over video.
Why it works: Can introduces two acceptable alternatives.
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You can bring a printed portfolio to show your past projects.
Why it works: Bringing a portfolio is allowed and optional.
You can practise this again in Said or Told: Choose the Right Verb and Could, would, or should: choose the right verb.
Your turn
An invitation states that meeting online is an open option. Which sentence fits this situation?
Answer: Candidates can attend the discussion by computer.
Show the answer
Answer: Candidates can attend the discussion by computer.
Can shows that connecting online is an available choice, not an exclusive command.
Use the base verb form
Both must and can are modal auxiliary verbs. They connect directly to the base form of the main verb. Never place the preposition to between the modal and the verb. Saying must attend or can attend is correct. Saying must to attend or can to attend is a grammar error.
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She must complete the technical evaluation before Friday.
Why it works: Complete is the base verb following must.
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You can submit your portfolio as a digital document.
Why it works: Submit is the base verb following can.
Your turn
Which sentence uses the correct grammatical structure after a modal verb?
Answer: All new staff must register before noon.
Show the answer
Answer: All new staff must register before noon.
Modal verbs like must and can are followed directly by the base verb without to.
Analyze conditional sentences
Conditional sentences with if often combine must and can across different clauses. An instruction might use must for a required action and can for the resulting permission. Reading the whole sentence helps you identify whether a specific clause describes a strict rule or an available choice.
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You must confirm your time slot today, but you can choose either room.
Why it works: Confirming is required, while choosing between rooms is an open option.
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If you pass the written test, you can schedule an interview.
Why it works: Passing the test unlocks the opportunity to schedule.
Your turn
Look at the sentence: 'You must arrive at nine, but you can leave your coat in room three.' What does can express here?
Answer: A permitted option for where to leave personal items.
Show the answer
Answer: A permitted option for where to leave personal items.
Can describes a permitted choice, while must sets the mandatory arrival time.
Separate orders from invitations
In workplace messages, tone changes depending on the modal you select. Must sounds formal and authoritative. It is ideal for safety rules, legal notices, and mandatory assessment steps. Can sounds cooperative and helpful. It works well when welcoming applicants, suggesting convenient meeting times, or offering hospitality.
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Visitors must sign the security register before entering the testing room.
Why it works: The instruction is an official security regulation.
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You can take a bottle of water from the table before we begin.
Why it works: The speaker offers a polite, friendly option.
Your turn
A recruiter wants to welcome a candidate and offer a seat politely. Which phrasing is appropriate?
Answer: You can take a seat near the window while you wait.
Show the answer
Answer: You can take a seat near the window while you wait.
Can offers a polite, hospitable option rather than an uncompromising order.
Listen for spoken stress
In natural English speech, modal verbs sound different depending on speaker emphasis. Speakers often pronounce can with a weak vowel sound when it indicates standard ability or permission. In contrast, speakers stress must clearly when emphasizing a necessary rule, making the vowel sound fuller and the consonant ending crisp.
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You can use either pen on the desk.
Why it works: Can is unstressed and pronounced quickly.
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You must sign your legal name on the agreement.
Why it works: Must receives strong vocal emphasis to mark the requirement.
Your turn
Why does a manager stress the word 'must' when explaining the interview date?
Answer: To make sure the candidate hears that attendance is strictly required.
Show the answer
Answer: To make sure the candidate hears that attendance is strictly required.
Stressing must draws attention to an essential requirement that cannot be overlooked.
Avoid common verb confusion
Learners sometimes confuse must with have to or can with could. While have to also expresses necessity, it uses different grammar rules for questions and negatives. Remember that can cannot replace must when a condition is obligatory. Using can for a mandatory rule might cause someone to miss an essential appointment.
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Employees must notify management twenty-four hours before taking leave.
Why it works: Must communicates a strict company policy.
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Employees can request remote work days on the internal portal.
Why it works: Can communicates an available privilege.
Your turn
What error occurs if an email says: 'You can bring your passport or you will fail the check'?
Answer: Can incorrectly suggests the passport is optional when it is actually required.
Show the answer
Answer: Can incorrectly suggests the passport is optional when it is actually required.
If failing the check is the penalty, the passport is required, so must is the necessary modal.
Apply modals in professional emails
When you write professional emails, selecting the correct modal prevents costly misunderstandings. State essential deadlines, documents, and qualifications with must so the reader understands what is required. Use can when outlining optional resources, flexible interview formats, or contact methods so the reader feels supported.
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Candidates must upload their references by Tuesday evening.
Why it works: Must sets a firm requirement for the deadline.
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You can contact our team if you need directions to the office.
Why it works: Can provides an optional channel for support.
Your turn
Which sentence clearly separates a requirement from a helpful option in an email?
Answer: You must submit your form today, but you can email me with questions.
Show the answer
Answer: You must submit your form today, but you can email me with questions.
This sentence clearly uses must for the mandatory submission and can for the optional support.
Questions about "Must or can attend: choose the right verb"
What is the difference between must attend and have to attend?
Both must attend and have to attend express necessity. Must often appears in official written instructions and notices from an employer or school. Have to is much more common in everyday spoken conversation when people talk about external requirements and obligations.
Job candidates must attend an orientation before starting work.
I have to attend an orientation meeting tomorrow morning.
Can I ever say 'must to attend' or 'can to attend'?
No. Both must and can are modal verbs, so they connect directly to the base form of the main verb. Adding the preposition to between a modal verb and the main verb is a grammatical mistake in standard English.
You must attend the safety briefing on Monday.
You can attend the workshop if your schedule allows.
How does the meaning change when must and can become negative?
In the negative, must not expresses prohibition, meaning an action is strictly forbidden. In contrast, cannot expresses an inability or lack of permission, meaning someone is unable to perform the action or lacks approval to do so.
Applicants must not use mobile phones during the written assessment.
Candidates cannot enter the secure evaluation room without an escort.
Should I say you can attend or you could attend when offering choices?
Both are grammatically correct, but could makes the option sound more tentative or gentle. Use can for a straightforward, direct statement of available options. Use could when you want to suggest possibilities softly without sounding too decisive.
You can attend either the morning or afternoon interview session.
You could attend the afternoon session if that fits your schedule better.
Before you go
Remember this
Choose must when there is an obligation and no alternative exists. Choose can when there is permission or more than one acceptable path. Keep the main verb in its base form after both modals, and check whether an if clause sets a condition before you select the verb.
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Imagine you are an office administrator calling a candidate. Explain in 20 to 30 seconds that they must attend their appointment on Tuesday, but they can select either the morning or afternoon session.
You could start with “Hello, I am calling from human resources to confirm that…”
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