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Modals Review - Must and Have To

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Claudia Pessoa
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8 views

Modals Review - Must and Have To

Uploaded by

Claudia Pessoa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modals Review: Must and Have to

In the sentence above, "should" could have been used instead of "must." It’s not
about an external or internal obligation. It's a familiar usage. It means that the movie
is so good that it's urgent for you to see it.
(Dans la phrase ci-dessus, "should" aurait pu être utilisé à la place de "must." Il ne
s'agit pas d'une obligation externe ou interne. C'est un usage familier. Cela veut dire
que le film est tellement bon qu'il est urgent que vous le voyiez).

I have to do something = it is necessary to do it, I am obliged to do it:


O You can’t turn right here. You have to turn left .
O I have to wear glasses for reading.
O Robert can’t come out with us this evening. He has to work late.

We use do/does/did in questions and negative sentences (for the present and past
simple): What do I have to do to get a new driving licence?
Karen doesn’t have to work Saturdays.

I must (do something) = I need to do it:


O I'm very hungry. I must eat something.
O It's a fantastic film. You must see it.
O The windows are very dirty. We must clean them.

In most cases, must and have to are similar.


You can say: It’s later than I thought. I must go. or I have to go.
1. Cases in which we use must OR have to:

You can use must or have to when you give your own opinion (for example, to say
what you think is necessary, or to recommend someone to do something): I haven’t
spoken to Sue for ages. I must phone her. / I have to phone her. (= I say this is
necessary) Mark is a really nice person.

You must meet him. / You have to meet him. (= I recommend this)

2. Cases in which we “usually” use have to:

We use have to (not usually must) to say what someone is obliged to do. This is a
fact, not the speaker’s own opinion:
I have to work from 8.30 to 5.30 every day. (a fact, not an opinion)
Jane has to travel a lot for her work.

Note: this “rule” is “usually” applicable. But it isn’t a major problem if you use must
sometimes in this case.

3. Cases in which we use must:

We use must in written rules and instructions:


Applications for the job must be received by 18 May.
Seat belts must be worn.

Negative forms:
Mustn’t and don’t have to are completely different

mustn't (= must not) I mustn't (do something) = I can't do it because it's forbidden. (Je
ne peux pas le faire parce que c'est interdit.)

O I must go. I mustn't be late.


O You must keep this a secret. You mustn’t tell anyone. (= don’t tell anyone
O You mustn't touch the pictures. (= don't touch the pictures)

don’t have to = you don’t need to do it (but you can if you want):
O You don’t have to come with me. I can go alone.
O I don’t have to be at the meeting, but I’m going anyway.

Other tenses (past and future forms):

We use the corresponding forms of have to (not must) to talk about the past or the future:
O I went to the meeting yesterday, but I had to leave early. (not I must)
O I can go to the conference with you, but I will have to leave early.

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