Must / Have To - Mustn't / Don't Have to

Listed below are examples and uses of must / have to /

mustn't / not have to

Examples Usage

We have to get up Use 'have to' in the past, present and future to express
early. responsibility or necessity. NOTE: 'have to' is conjugated as a
She had to work regular verb and therefore requires an auxillary verb in the
hard yesterday. question form or negative.
They will have to
arrive early.
Does he have to
go?

Use 'must' to express something that you or a person feels is

necessary. This form is used only in the present and future.
I must finish this
work before I
leave.
Must you work so
hard?

The negative form of 'have to' expresses the idea that

something is not required. It is however, possible if so desired.
You don't have to
arrive before 8.
They didn't have to
work so hard.

The negative form of 'must' expresses the idea that something

is prohibitied - this form is very different in meaning than the
She mustn't use
negative of 'have to'!
such horrible
language.
Tom. You mustn't
play with fire.

Did he have to IMPORTANT: The past form of 'have to' and 'must' is 'had to'.
leave so early? Must does not exist in the past.

He had to stay
overnight in Dallas.
 EXERCISES

Fill in the blanks with must have to in the right

tense
1. It is very cold, we ________ light the
fire (a father to his son)

2. You ________ go to bed now. It is

very late (obligation)

3. When I was at university I ________

study very hard (a mother to her
daughter)
4. You ________ come back home
before midnight

5. If I want to do a master, I ________

my degree first

6. The neighbours complained and the

police told us that we ________ to
turn the music down
7. This is a secret; you ________ not
say anything about it

8. You look very tired. You ________

rest

9. I ________ to tidy my room before

my mum comes back

10. I have fixed the toilet; you don't

________ call the plumber

11. The lawyer told his client that he

didn't ________ confess to his
participation in the fraud
12. (A mother to her son) You ________
change your clothes; they are very
dirty
13. During the exam you ________ not
speak to your classmates