Modal verb have to. Modal verb Must and have to in English

We continue to study modal constructions, and today our task is to understand why the combination have to is a modal verb, and not the usual expression of possession, as it might seem to many. The fact is that the English have carries many contexts for which both meanings and grammatical rules differ. We will try to clearly distinguish between the scope of use and the norms of grammar for each case. Let's start with the main have value, and then we will move on to mastering the modal construction: consider its functions, methods of formation and examples of sentences. Let's get started!

The main use of this verb is the designation of belonging, possession, possession, translated into Russian by the phrase " he has smth.», « havesmth.". With its help, they indicate the features of appearance, capabilities, the presence of certain objects and properties. Such combinations have been practiced since the very first English classes. Gradually, students will learn that the verb to have in English language has 2 forms for the present, have/has (3rd person singular), and for the past and future, one each: had and will have.

• They have got abigfruitsgardenThey have a big orchard.
• She hasgot three apartments in ManchesterAtherthere isthreeapartmentsvManchester.
• I have a new waterproof watchI have a new waterproof watch.
• He had a good umbrella, but he lost itAthimwasgoodumbrella,buthelosthis.
• I had darkhairbutIdyeditI had dark hair, but I dyed it.
• We will have anothercar! We'll have another car!
• She will have anewjobnextmonthShe will have a new job next month.

Verb have and combination havegot carry the same semantic load, and differ only in the established tradition of use. The British prefer to build phrases with havegot, and the Americans with a simple have. However, the combination with got is characteristic only for the present tense. In other cases, it has the usual forms had and willhave.

Discrepancies also arise in the construction of questions and negatives. havegot can create them yourself, and have only with the auxiliary do.

• Has she got fair hair? -Atherlighthair?
• Does he have my phone number? -Athimthere ismyroomphone?
• Do you have a red pen? -Atyouthere isredpen?
• have they got this book? -Atthemthere isthisbook?

The future and past tense will be the same for both kinds of verbs.

• Will she have a new motorcycle? -Atherwillnewmotorcycle?
• Did we have abigyour ownlibrary? Did you have a large library of your own?

The same rules apply to negatives.

• He doesn't 't have hisownhouseHe doesn't have his own house.
• You haven't got such wonderful flowers! -AtyouNosuchmiraculouscolors!
• I didn't 't have somuchmoney- I didn't have that much money.
• She didn't 't have areddressShe didn't have a red dress.
• We won 't have anewflatWe won't have a new apartment.
• I won 't have timeforthat“I won't have time for this.

In addition, the verb have is part of many set expressions, denoting some kind of action in them.

• We will have a dinner at 6 o'clock -Wewe willhave supper at 6hours.
• I had a headache yesterday- I have yesterday headache.
• Waiter, I will have a glass of wine – Waiter,I amI will drink Cup guilt.
• She has a talk withherfriends- She talking with your friends.

Denoting an action (but not a state!), have is also used in the form of a continuum.

• I am having lunch now-I AMnowhaving lunch.
• She had a shower at that momentVthatmomentshehosted shower.
• He will be having a walk in the city at this time tomorrowTomorrowvittimehewill walk around oncity.

Note also that have is an auxiliary verb for the formation of all aspects of the perfect group. More details on this point can be found in the relevant articles.

Have to modal verb

The use of the verb to have to as a modal construction can be immediately distinguished by the presence of the particle to.

In the combination have to, the modal verb denotes necessity, duty, forced measures. It is analogous to must, and even replaces it with its past form had. However, there is some difference in semantic meanings: must is what needs to be done by an independent decision, and have to is what is done under the pressure of circumstances.

Types of predicates

Constructions with this modal word can be used in all forms of time: past, future and present.

As in the semantic meaning, the present tense is formed by two types of predicate: has to for the third person singular. nouns and pronouns, and have to for other persons. The modal helper is followed by the infinitive of the main verb. The generalized scheme will look like this:

Mybrother (1) hasto (2) clean (3) hisroom (4) – My brother will have to clean his room.

• Children have to go totheirgranny'sbirthdaypartyThe children need to go to their grandmother's birthday party.
• I have to finish thisreportbyThursdayI have to finish this report by Thursday.
• She has to read theDeadSoulsbythe nextlessonShe must read Dead Souls» to the next lesson.

In statements that have the past or future tense, the predicates will be the same for all forms.

• We had to write himtheletterWe had to write him a letter.
• She had towash the windows-Sheforcedwaswashwindow.
• Probably, you will have to go toKenyathisweekendYou may have to go to Kenya this weekend.
• Hesaythathe will have to meet hisrelativesfromMoscowtomorrowHe says that he will have to meet his relatives from Moscow tomorrow.

Creating questions and negatives for the verb have to requires the participation of auxiliary verbs. Consider their formation and application using the table.

Please note that, unlike must, negative sentences are not a prohibition, but an indication that there is no need to perform these actions.

Use cases

According to grammatical norms, the modal verb have to is used in English in several contexts.

1) To indicate a forced need, i.e. the person was obliged, forced or forced to perform the specified actions. This is the main purpose of this design.

• We have to watch thisboringfilm We have to watch this boring film.
• On the last camping trip, he had tocall his parents every two hoursVlasttrip, he had to call his parents every two hours.
• I will have to sign the agreementnextWednesday I will have to sign the agreement next Wednesday.

2) In a certain situation, this construction may have the meaning of an assumption, a conclusion. True, in most cases, the British prefer to use must for these purposes.

• It has to be Pamela's jacket. Itsmellsofherperfume This must be Pamela's jacket. She smells like her perfume.
• They are so elegantly dressed. They have to have been at the theaterTheySoelegantlydressed up!They must have been in the theatre.

3) In addition, this combination allows you to give advice or recommendations, try to convince the interlocutor to perform the specified actions or take part in events.

• They have to listen a new album of the Offspring. Theywilllikeit! They should listen to the new Offspring album. Themlike it!
• You have to go to the Dream! There are so wonderful desserts at this café! -Youshouldgo offv "Dream."This cafe has such wonderful desserts!
• your husband hasto take part in the competition. Hewilldefinitelywinit! Your husband should take part in this competition. He will definitely win it!

Here is such a multi-valued and diverse verb have in English! We hope you have learned all its meanings, and now you will never confuse semantic, auxiliary and modal have. See you in new classes!

In order to exist in this world, we daily have to do things that are dictated by duty, which we are obliged to do, whether we like it or not. modal have to in English is used specifically to denote this kind of obligation. In other words, if the speaker means that he must do something not of his own free will, but because such are the circumstances or a sense of duty requires it, it is precisely have to that is used.

Have got to VS have to

Have to has another option, have got to. It should not be confused with the functional verb, which means "to have".

Unlike have to, which indicates a repeated action, have got to is used when the speaker means something specific.

For instance:

• I have to write these letters whatever happens - I have to write these letters, no matter what happens.
  • I have got to write to him, don't you understand it? - I have to write to him. Do not you understand?
• I have to visit her every day, as my mom said - I have to visit her every day, as my mother said.
  • I have got to go to her place, will you go with me? I have to visit her, will you come with me?

In all cases, the action performed by the speaker is dictated by a sense of duty, and not by internal motives.

In practice in colloquial speech more often, the have to variant is used to denote both a repetitive and a specific single action.

The modal verb have to as a substitute for must and needn't

In some cases, have to and have got to replace must, although they are not its direct equivalents. So, if grammatically must cannot be used, have to is put. This rule is true for the expression of obligation in the past and future tenses, as well as in negative expressions. For instance:

• I must help him - I must help him.
• I had to help him - I had to help him.
• I will have to help him - I will have to help him.
• I don't have to help him - I shouldn't have helped him.

Please note that the mustn't form was not used in the negative sentence, since it does not translate “shouldn't”, but “shouldn't”. For comparison:

• You mustn't go there, it's too dangerous for a kid - You can't go there, it's very dangerous for a child.
• You don't have to go there, it's not your work to pick berries - You don't have to go there, picking berries is not your task.

In the case of needn't, there is some confusion when translating into Russian. This verb also means "don't need", but its original meaning is much softer. So, when needn’t slips into speech, it means that there is no need to do something, that it is not necessary. When translated into Russian, phrases with needn’t and don’t have to will sound almost the same. In order to make an adequate translation into English, pay attention to that. what meaning in the original language was embedded in the phrase. In other words, look into the context and make a contextual translation.

Grammatical features of the modal verb have to

The uniqueness of have to is that, firstly, it is followed by a particle to, although in any English grammar textbook it will be written that the so-called bare infinitive is used after modals, that is, an infinitive without a particle to. Compare:

• I can do it, but you have to help us while he must check everything. “I can do it, but you have to help us, and he has to check everything.

This sentence contains three model verbs at once, but only have to has a piece of the infinitive after it.

The next feature of the verb is that, unlike most, it requires the use of an auxiliary verb of the corresponding tense. For instance:

• I don't have to tell you about it, it is against the rules of the game, you know - I shouldn't tell you this, it's against the rules of the game, and you know it.
• Do you have to stay here all the time? Why don't you come and walk a bit? Are you supposed to be here all the time? Why don't you go out and take a little walk?
• He is so rich that he doesn't have to earn money working hard and he doesn't know what it means to make the ends meet - He is so rich that he doesn't need to earn money hard work and he doesn't know what it means to make ends meet.

pretend verb

Have to can be a real problem for people who are starting to learn a language. It's all about the coincidence of the form have to analogues in Present and past perfect. But it is difficult only at first glance. Let's dwell on this in a little more detail.

The main reason for the confusion is in the verb have. It can be both semantic and auxiliary. So when the same verb occurs in a modal function, people get lost. In order to determine the function of the verb in each specific case, a thorough knowledge of grammar will be required first of all. So the difference between modal, auxiliary and functional will be obvious. For instance:

• I have a lot to tell you, let's sit and talk. “I have a lot to tell you, let’s sit down and talk.”
• I have to tell you a lot. Let's sit and talk. “I have a lot to tell you. Let's sit down and talk.
• I have told you a lot. Let's discuss it. “I have told you a lot. Let's discuss this.

Each of the sentences contains the verb have. In the first one, it is a simple functional verb "to have". V this case meaning that the speaker has certain information. Have is followed by a noun and immediately followed by an article. This is the main clue. Functional verbs are always followed by a noun or pronoun.

In the second case, after have there is a particle to, and then another verb tell. The verb + verb link indicates that in this case have to carries the semantic connotation of modality and is translated “should”.

Finally, in the third sentence after have comes the third form of the verb to tell - told. This is a hint that we have in front of us in the function of the auxiliary verb for the Present Perfect tense.

Thus, despite the fact that the verb to have occurs in most different options, it is not difficult to determine its function in each specific case. The main thing is to know the basic rules for connecting words in a sentence. English - analytical language, so the word order is fixed. This makes it easier for all language learners.

Modal verb have to is used in English most often to describe and express the need and obligation to perform some action. However, it can also describe certainty, certainty or probability, but in these semantic meanings it is used less frequently.

In many ways, have to is very similar to must, and sometimes it is easy to confuse their use. However, if must is a firm obligation that is non-negotiable and must be fulfilled, then the expression have to has a certain connotation of compulsion. That is, a person may not want to do some actions, but he is obliged to do it, and not out of moral motives, but under some kind of pressure.

It is easy to determine the difference between the use of certain verbs if we consider one situation in a different emotional coloring.

Jack, I need to tell you something. Jack, I need to tell you something. (There may not necessarily be a sad emotion here. On the contrary, such a sentence can be pronounced intriguingly, foreshadowing a pleasant surprise.)

Jack, I must tell you something. Jack, I have something to tell you. (A person is obliged to tell something for moral reasons.)

Jack, I don't want to tell you that, but I have to. “Jack, I hate to say this, but I have to. (Here it means that a person is forced to say. For example, he is the boss, and his position forces him to do so.)

You can also give an example where have to is often used to describe an action that needs to be supported more out of social considerations than out of vital necessity.

I must go to doctor tomorrow. - I have to go to the doctor tomorrow. (This refers to the consideration of ensuring life and health. If I do not go to the doctor tomorrow, I will die or get sick.)

I have to go to doctor tomorrow. - I have to go to the doctor tomorrow. (Here, we consider the case when you need to go to the doctor tomorrow in order to stick to the planned schedule. That is, you can go in a week, but such actions will let the doctor down, since he made time for an appointment for tomorrow.)

Along with the modal verb have to, the grammar uses the form have got to. There is no significant difference between them. However, if the first form is used in formal and colloquial speech, then the second is more in colloquial. Some philologists and linguists who study English thoroughly say that have got is used to describe one-time circumstances, but have to is used when talking about permanent duties.

I don't have to write it every day, but tomorrow I have got to write it. I don't have to write this every day, but tomorrow I will have to write it.

By the way, one should immediately note the grammatical difference between these forms. In questions and negations with the have to construction, an auxiliary verb is additionally used, but with the have got to form it is not needed.

Have you got to read it? - Do you need to read this?

I haven't got to clean. – I shouldn’t/should/have to clean it.

Do you have to make it? - Do you need to make it?

I don't have to clean it. – I shouldn’t/should/have to clean it.

In colloquial speech, the form have got to is contracted into I've gotta do, and sometimes the verb have is even omitted, and people can say I gotta do. In general, the modal verb have to and the form have got to are used to express compulsion, necessity, and certainty. Of course, abbreviated forms can be used in a conversation, but they are not yet applicable in formal documents.

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The verb system of the English language is significantly different from Russian. You can often hear: “English is so complicated! And modal verbs are something from the realm of fantasy. In fact, there is nothing complicated about them: you need to carefully look at them.

In this article, we will deal with one such verb - “have to”.

Temporal forms of the verb have to

The modal verb have to can be used in the present, past and future tenses. The table shows education in detail different forms verb.

present simple

Examples of using the modal verb have to in Past Simple

Alan had to wait for a long time. Alan had to wait a long time. Our class didn't have to plant trees. Did you have to wear uniform at school? Did you have to wear uniform at school?

Examples of using the modal verb have to in Future Simple

They will have to prepare a project. They prepare a project. My brother won't have to walk the dog. Will Ann and John have to take a maths exam? Will Ann and John have to take a maths exam?

Examples of using the modal verb have to to express necessity

They have to wear uniform. (The school has such a rule) They must wear a uniform. (There is such school rule) Peter had to read two books a week. (To prepare for the exam) Peter had to read two books a week. (To prepare for the exam) I’ll have to water my mother’s flowers during two weeks. (My mother won't be at home, so I will do it instead of her) I have to water my mother's flowers for two weeks. (She won't be home and I'll do it for her)

Examples of using the modal verb have to to express confidence

It has to be Michael's car. I saw photos of his car. It must be Michael's car. I saw pictures of his car. That has to have been Sara. They said she was slim and tall. Most likely it was Sarah. They said she was slim and tall.

negative form

Examples of using the negative form of the modal verb have to

You don't have to read that book. You don't have to read that book. John doesn't have to take chemistry exam. John didn't have to take a chemistry exam. They won't have to pay for dinner. They don't have to pay for lunch.

Important!

if a negative adverb or pronoun is used in the sentence, for example never, then the particle not is not used. With one verb, there can be only one negation:

Allan never has to think about a job. Alan never has to think about work.

Watch the video

Consider a modal verb have to / have got to in English, its use cases and temporary forms with examples and translation.

Modal verb Have to and its meaning

People who are not native speakers have a difficult situation with this branch of grammar, in fact, modal verbs sometimes mean the same thing.

For instance,

Have to or Must?

Must(should) is based on personal requests, and the modal verb have to(obliged) due to circumstances from outside and represents the absence of an alternative when requested. Consider an example:

🔊 You must go on a budget. - You must go to the budget.
(your family can basically pull your paid education, but they would like to protect themselves from such expenses, you should have a choice)

🔊 You have to go on a budget. - You must go to the budget.
(you have no choice, your family will not be able to pay for your education, so you have to try)

Important features

Important! Distinctive features of modal verbs have to and have got to are: the self-sufficiency of these verbs (they can express the category of person and number) and, unlike other modal English verbs, the particle is used before the main verb after them to.

To have and have to should not be confused

Verb to have translates as "to have / to own", and the modal verb have to- “must / must”. Below are examples of proposals.

🔊 I have a phone. - I have a phone.

🔊 I have to go.- I have to go.

Absolutely different meanings, is not it?

Forms

Comment! Interrogative and negative form of the modal verb have to formed together with an auxiliary verb to do(See examples of sentences below the summary table).

Present Simple:
a) Approval
🔊 She has to come to the office at the right time. - She should come to the office at the right time.
b) Denial
🔊 I graduated from school and I do not have to do my homework anymore. — I finished school and I am more is not obliged to to do homework.
c) Question
🔊 Does she have to do this project? — Should she do this project?

past simple:
a) Approval
🔊 I had to write to him. - I AM should have write him.
b) Denial
🔊 I didn't have to ask her about her age. - I AM shouldn't have ask her about her age.
c) Question
🔊 Did I have to help you? - I AM should have can I help you?

Future Simple:
a) Approval
🔊 Jane will have to go at 7 p.m. — Jane have to go at 7pm.
b) Denial
🔊Isabella won't have to write this work. — Isabella don't have to write this work.
c) Question
🔊 Will I have to do this exercise? - To me have to do this exercise?

What is the difference between Have got to and Have to?

In addition to tense forms, the modal verb have to there is a form have got to(she met above). The difference between these forms is practically not noticeable. So, have got to is used in British English mainly in the present tense and indicates a specific non-repetitive action.

The modal verb Have to is used:

• when we are compelled (not obligated) to do something because of external circumstances(not by choice);