Have to / must in English

Modal verbs have to / must always cause confusion among students of English. They have difficulty in recognizing the functions of these words. The bottom line is that they are really quite similar in use, but still have a different shade. Moreover, have to / must , the difference between which is so difficult to discern by students, have different specifics of the formation of sentences in the times. We'll talk about all these nuances today in our article.

What is a modal verb?

First, let's look at what the modal verb is. Hearing the word "verb", many understand it literally, that is, the commission of some action. This is an erroneous perception. The point is that modal verbs do not express any action. They express the attitude of the talking person to a certain process. So, you can say: "I play the piano". Here the action takes place directly, and a simple verb "play" participates. And you can say:

• I can play the piano.
• I have to play the piano.
• I have to play the piano.
• I should play the piano.
• I can not play the piano.

In this case, for the same action, different modal verbs express different attitudes towards it: to be able, to guide, advise, reproach, forbid - all these are functions of modal verbs. For this purpose, can, should, must, have to, need . The difference between them is just in different respects. Depending on what you want to express, you need to take the corresponding modal expression.

What do verbs have in common?

Why did we decide to take the verbs have to / must ? The fact is that they are very similar in their functions. Both are used in the sense of "owes". Particularly confusing is the situation when we need to use these verbs in the past or the future tense. The fact is that one of them does not have forms in these times, and the verb needs to be replaced so that the information was conveyed reliably and understandably for the person speaking to you in English.

Have to / must: difference

If we talk about the differences between these modal verbs, there will be many more points. In addition to the main, semantic, there is also a difference in the availability of temporary forms, as well as a different approach to the formation of different types of proposals. Here the basis is the form of verbs. One of them is strong, and the other is weak. Hence the difference in the formation of interrogative and negative sentences. Both verbs have to, must can be used in similar structures, but each of them behaves differently. Moreover, recently, the must has increasingly become used because people often began to use the meaning of "must", as an influence from the outside. And the meaning of the word as awareness of the sense of duty on the part of the speaker is used much less often.

Feature of use have to

Must is a verb that is given for study easier. What can not be said about his opponent. Let's understand all the subtleties of use have to .

In the modal function, this verb has weak properties. This is done so that people do not confuse the use of it as a meaningful strong "to have" in other variants. What does it mean? This means that the auxiliary verb is used in the formation of interrogative sentences, as well as negations. For example:

• I have to get up early. I have to get up early.
• Do you have to get up early? Do you have to get up early?
• I do not have to get up early. I do not need to get up early.

As you can see, this verb behaves in sentences differently than we used to observe the behavior of a strong "have". (Have you a dog? I have not any sugar.)

Here it is worth remembering that, like the semantic verb that we know, have two forms that are used depending on the person and the number of subject in the sentence.

• I, you, we, they, they have to get up early.
• He, she, it has to get up early.

The next feature of this verb is the presence of time forms. So, in the past tense the form had had to be used , and in the future tense - will have to.

• I had to get up early. I had to get up early.
• I will have to get up early. I will have to get up early.

We draw attention to the fact that in all proposals, emphasis is placed not merely on obligation but on compulsion, that is, on the influence of certain factors, in addition to the person's desire. At the same time, in the past, and in the future, the verb also uses help to formulate questions and deny.

• Did you have to get up early? Were you forced to get up early?
• I did not have to get up early. I did not have to get up early.
• Will you have to get up early? Will you have to get up early?
• I will not have to get up so early. There will be no need for me to get up so early.

Feature of application must

Let us pass to the second representative of this shade of modality. With the verb must, the situation is somewhat simpler. First, it has a fairly simple meaning - "should". Everyone understands it exactly as it should. A person, by virtue of his own conviction, must perform some kind of action. In the presence of a negative particle, a prohibition on committing a process is expressed.

• I must go to this party. I have to go to this party. (I understand that I must do this).
• They must buy the house. They have to buy a house. (They understand that they need it).
• He must not do it. He should not do this.

The peculiarity of this verb is that, like most modal words, it is strong. This means that when building questions and denying it does not need any help.

• I must not go to this party. I do not have to go to this party.
• Must you buy the house? Should you buy a house?

Another distinguishing feature of this word is the presence of only one form for all persons, numbers and times. If there was a need to use such an expression in the past or future time, then the well-known to us comes with a set of temporary forms.

• I had to go to this party. I had to go to this party.

In addition to this value, the must is also used in the meaning of "must be" in the expression of doubt with a touch of confidence, unlike the uncertain may.

• He must have fallen ill. He must be sick.
• He may have fallen ill. Probably, he was ill.

And the last nuance is the categorical absence of a particle to after the verb.

Difficulties in use

Complexities in application are available not only with the verbs must and have to . Grammar - science is quite complex, and requires care, patience and perseverance. Only under such conditions will you obey all the rules and their exceptions. The biggest difficulty is not even the choice of the verb itself, but the application of its desired form. Many difficulties arise from the use of auxiliary verbs do, does, did . Often students try to make a weak verb strong and vice versa. Only practice and constant training will make use of these words on an automatic level.

Summary table

Now, summing up, I want to collect all in one table for additional clarity of the difference and general characteristics of these two words. So, the verbs must and have to , the rule of use:

Exercises for training

The best training for fixing the rules of application of verbs have to / must will be sentences for translation from Russian into English. For example:

1. We must learn this verse for tomorrow.
2. They had to leave.
3. She will have to call me at 5.
4. He has to go to this lyceum.

Also very good at training the ability to use the required forms of substitution tasks. For example:

1. She ... stay here for three days. (Have to)
2. I ... train a lot. (Must)
3. ... you ... open the door? (Have to)

Another good example of training is not just translating sentences, but applying them in mini-dialogs. This immerses the student in a real situation, and he realizes that it is very important to correctly express your thoughts in order to be understood as he needs. For example:

- Hi. Where are you going?

- Hi. I have to go to the store.

- What for?

- We broke the stove, and we have to buy ready-made food in the store.

This is not the whole list of possible exercises, but here the main thing is to start. And then practice and work will lead you to success, and you will easily use any modal verb.