Albert Einstein

Have To - When To Use - English Grammar

Have To - When To Use | Have To - When To Use Exercise | Have To - When To Use Exercise Answers | Have To - How To Form | Have To - How To Form Exercise | Have To - How To Form Exercise Answers

Read the grammar reference about Have To / Don't Have To Construction.

Then do the exercises on Have To / Don't Have To Exercise page.

Have To / Don't Have To - Use

• We use have to to talk about strong obligation that comes from somewhere else, for example from you boss, you parents, a rule at school or work.

  Examples:
  
  I have to be home by ten. (My parents told me so.)
  I must be home by ten. I have a very difficult day tomorrow. (It is my own decision.)
  
  I have to get up early, because I start work at 8. (It is a rule.)
  I should get up early. (Now I stay in bed until lunchtime.)

• Don't have to means that there isn't any obligation at all,
  there is no need to do it.

  Don't have to is different from shouldn't and mustn't.

  Examples:
  
  I don't have to get up early at weekend.
  (I can stay in bed as long as I want.)
  
  You mustn't tell lies. (It is very bad to tell lies.)
  
  You don't have to go with me.
  (You can go with me if you want to.)
  
  You shouldn't smoke. (It is bad for your health.)
  

• In spoken British English you can also use have got to and haven't got to.

  Examples:
  
  Pamela is a waitress. She's got to work at weekends.
  Have I got to do it right now?
  I haven't got to take my sister to school, my parents do it.
  

Tip! We do not use have to when we talk about what is a good idea to do, but we don't do it yet. Instead, we use should. See the Should - Grammar page for more informations.

Now do the exercises on Have To / Don't Have To Exercise page.

Have To - When To Use | Have To - When To Use Exercise | Have To - When To Use Exercise Answers | Have To - How To Form | Have To - How To Form Exercise | Have To - How To Form Exercise Answers

Rate Have To/Don't Have To - English Grammar