Must vs have to

MUST / MUSTN’T / HAVE TO / DON’T, DOESN’T HAVE TO

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 Must Have to
We use have to
Modal verb instead of must Semi modal verb
- After must we need a base form of - Question form is most often - After have to we need a base
another verb formed with have to form of another verb
- It always has the same form ( Do you have to…? Or Does he - It is in a verb tense
have to…? What do they have to
I must go. We must go. do?) - Present Simple
You must go. You must go. - Negative form She has to clean her shoes.
He must go. They must go. ( Don’t have to / doesn’t have to - Past Simple
- Interrogative is made by inversion I don’t have to work on Saturdays. She had to clean her shoes last
night.
( Must I…? Must you…? Must she…? ) He doesn’t have to finish his project
today. ) - Present Perfect
- It can only be in Present but it can
imply Future - Past Tense She had had to clean her shoes
since she was ten.
You must do it today. ( They had to finish their project
yesterday. - Future
You must do it tomorrow.
Did they have to finish it yesterday? She will have to clean her shoes
Must can express:
when she grows up.
 obligation, duty, or need to do They didn’t have to finish it
yesterday. ) Have to expresses obligation or
something (necessity)
necessity or lack of it.
 certainty or a logical conclusion - Present Perfect

 emphatic advice I have never had to work so hard

until now.

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 Must vs have to
BOTH MUST AND HAVE TO EXPRESS OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY, BUT THERE ARE SOME
SMALL DIFFERENCES:
• MUST EXPRESSES THE SPEAKER'S FEELINGS OR AUTHORITY, WHEREAS HAVE
TO EXPRESSES, AN EXTERNAL OBLIGATION:

YOU MUST COME TO MY PARTY. - YOU ARE OBLIGED TO COME. (I REQUIRE THAT YOU
COME. – VERY USUAL WAY OF INFORMAL INVITATION)

YOU HAVE TO COME TO THE MEETING. - YOU ARE OBLIGED TO COME. (THERE'S A RULE
REQUIRING YOU TO COME)

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 Must vs have to
 MUST MAY BE USED WHEN THE SPEAKER APPROVES OF AN OBLIGATION:
A DRIVER WHO HAS KNOCKED SOMEONE DOWN MUST STOP. (THE SPEAKER THINKS IT IS THE
DRIVER'S DUTY TO STOP.)
 OR WHEN THE SPEAKER FEELS STRONGLY:
SOMETHING MUST BE DONE TO STOP THESE ACCIDENTS.
 AND MUST IS BETTER WHEN THE OBLIGATIONS ARE SPECIFIC ( URGENT OR SEEM
IMPORTANT ) TO THE SPEAKER:
I MUST TELL YOU ABOUT A DREAM I HAD LAST NIGHT.
BEFORE WE DO ANYTHING I MUST SPEAK WITH HER.

 HAVE TO IS BETTER FOR HABITS OR GENERAL OBLIGATIONS:

I HAVE TO TAKE TWO OF THESE PILLS A DAY

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 Must vs have to
SECOND PERSON EXAMPLES
1 SPEAKER'S AUTHORITY
MOTHER: YOU MUST WEAR A DRESS TONIGHT. YOU CAN'T GO TO THE OPERA IN THOSE
DREADFUL JEANS.
EMPLOYER: YOU MUST USE A DICTIONARY. I'M TIRED OF CORRECTING YOUR SPELLING
MISTAKES.
DOCTOR: YOU MUST CUT DOWN ON YOUR SMOKING.
2 EXTERNAL AUTHORITY
YOU HAVE TO WEAR UNIFORM ON DUTY.
YOU HAVE TO TRAIN VERY HARD FOR THE BIG MATCHES I SUPPOSE.
YOU’LL HAVE TO GET UP EARLIER WHEN YOU START WORK.

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 Must vs have to
WHEN WE ARE MERELY STATING OR COMMENTING ON ANOTHER PERSON'S OBLIGATIONS
( THIRD PERSON ) WE USE HAVE TO:

IN THIS OFFICE EVEN THE SENIOR STAFF MEMBER HAS TO BE AT THE DESK BY 9.00.
SHE HAS TO MAKE HER CHILDREN'S CLOTHES. SHE CAN'T AFFORD TO BUY THEM.
THEY'LL HAVE TO SEND A DIVER DAWN TO EXAMINE THAT UNDERWATER CAVE.

MUST IS CHIEFLY USED IN WRITTEN ORDERS OR INSTRUCTIONS:

EVERYBODY MUST STOP AT THE RED TRAFFIC LIGHT.

YOU MUST TURN THE WASHING MACHINE OFF BEFORE YOU TAKE THE LAUNDRY OUT.

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 Mustn’t / don’t have to

• MUSTN'T EXPRESSES PROHIBITION

YOU MUSTN'T DRIVE. - YOU ARE PROHIBITED TO DRIVE. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO DRIVE.

• DON'T HAVE TO EXPRESSES THE ABSENCE OF OBLIGATION OR NECESSITY:

YOU DON'T HAVE TO DRIVE. - YOU ARE NOT OBLIGED TO DRIVE. ( BUT YOU CAN IF YOU
WANT TO. )

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