Have to and must

  • A2 · Elementary
  • Grammar lesson
  • 60 min

have to and has to for what is necessary, don't have to for what is not, had to for the past, and must not and can't for what is not allowed. From a new employee's first-day rules to asking your teacher about the rules at their job.

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have tomustdon't have to

What's in the lesson

  1. 1Warm-up
  2. 2Reading: welcome to the teamReading comprehension
  3. 3What does it mean?Grammar exercise
  4. 4Find the rulesGrammar exercise
  5. 5How have to and must workGrammar rule
  6. 6Not allowed or not necessary?Grammar exercise
  7. 7Choose the right formGrammar exercise
  8. 8Questions and short answersGrammar exercise
  9. 9Questions for your teacherGrammar exercise
  10. 10Say it naturallySpeaking practice
  11. 11Your first daySpeaking practice
  12. 12About youGrammar exercise
  13. 13Wrap-up

Homework

  1. 1Homework: school rulesGrammar exercise
  2. 2Homework: find the mistakeGrammar exercise
  3. 3Homework: the rules where I liveDiscussion

Two slides from the lesson

Warm-up

A few questions about you before we start.

  1. Did your parents have a lot of rules when you were a child?
  2. Which job has the most rules, do you think?
  3. What is the strangest rule you have ever heard of?

Grammar rule

How have to and must work

have to = it is necessary

Example
PositiveYou have to be here at nine. Everybody has to wear an ID card.
NegativeYou don't have to wear a suit. She doesn't have to come. (= it isn't necessary)
QuestionDo I have to wear a tie? — Yes, you do. / No, you don't. Does she have to work on Fridays?
PastLast year, I had to take the bus every day. Did you have to wait?

I, you, we, they → have to · he, she, it → has to · have to always takes the base form: has to go (not has to goes).

must = have to · must not and can't = it is not allowed

must means the same as have to: it is necessary. must not means it is not allowed. Both are strong and a little formal, so we see them in written rules and on signs: Passengers must wear a seat belt. You must not smoke here. In conversation, we usually say have to and can't: You can't eat at your desk.

must has no past and no to: not must to go, not musted. For the past, use had to. In American English, mustn't is rare: say must not or can't.

Be careful!

MeaningExample
don't have toit isn't necessary; you can chooseYou don't have to come to the lunch, but it's fun.
must not / can'tit isn't allowed; don't do it!You must not give your password to anyone.
In casual speech, have got to means have to: I've got to go! (It often sounds like "gotta".)

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