Modal verb have to: meaning and usage. Have to Modal Verb: Meaning, Patterns, and Uses

Every day we do things that are dictated to us by duty, obligation, circumstances. This is normal, because we want to coexist in society. True, we do some of them with reluctance, unwillingness. A simple "must, must" makes us act. In multifaceted English grammar, have to is used for this.

This is where many fall into a trap. And all why? the verb have in English language can be semantic in the meaning of "to have", and auxiliary in Present Perfect, and modal verb. We are interested in the latter, and in order to distinguish it from the first two, remember some peculiarities .

1. Always used followed by an infinitive with to.
2. The meaning of this modal verb is: must, forced, which is very close to the meaning of must. The main difference is that have to expresses the compulsion to perform this or that action, in other words: I must ... because ....
3. One more distinguishing feature is used in past and present tense. Considering have verb to in different segments, you will notice its changes in the faces.

He has to get up at dawn. He must (forced for some reason) get up at dawn.

I had to stay at home yesterday, because my son got ill. I had to stay at home yesterday because my son got sick.

She will have to learn it by heart. She will have to learn it by heart.

Forms of the verb have to

In every tense, with every subject to have is able to find mutual language, adjusting to each grammatical phenomenon, like an ordinary semantic verb.

• V present in an affirmative sentence: have to/has to. To build a question and a negation, you need an auxiliary verb do/does and, accordingly, a part of not.

I have to call the doctor. “I have to call a doctor.

She doesn't have to stay in bed. She doesn't need to stay in bed.

Do you have to write your report today? Do you have to write an essay today?

• To denote long-past events, the already familiar second form have is used. in the past time -"had" . If you want to ask something or speak negatively, then without "did" you can't get by.

They had to change trains. They had to transfer to another train.

She didn't have to be there in the afternoon. She didn't have to be there for dinner.

Why did they have to go to the police station? Why did they have to go to the police?

• Yes and future will not tell anything new: standard will/ shall + have + to + inf.

If Rose fails, she'll have to repeat the course. If Rose fails the exam, she will have to repeat the course.

Use

1. How often under the influence of circumstances we have to do something. For Expression obligations for various reasons, English uses have to. This function can be translated like this: you have to do something, you have to.

The traffic lights turned red and I had to stop. — The traffic light switched to red and I had to stop.

I learned the poem. I didn't want to, but I had to. — I learned the poem. I didn't want to, but I had to.

Factory workers have to work 6 hours a week. Factory workers must work 6 hours a week.

2. Often modal verb to have expresses the need to do something , which also arises under the circumstances: I need, I need, I must.

Do you have to listen to his singing? Should you listen to him sing?

We have to do much before we leave. We still have a lot to do before we leave.

When did you have to be in Italy? — When did you have to be in Italy?

Comparison

The verb have to can be confused with either must or need - needn't.

• must is used in situations where more strict enforcement, order or prohibition is needed. And have to simply states what has to be done. It is usually seen from the context, and the emotional coloring of the sentence is clearly traced. Remember that have to replaces must in past and future tenses.
• If the situation is surrounded by circumstances that force us to do something, then we use have to. If it simply says that “it is necessary” and “it is not necessary”, whether there is a need or not, then we use need - needn’t.

You must be more attentive. - You should be more careful.

You have to be more attentive to your mistakes, because you will fail the exam. You must be more attentive to your mistakes, otherwise you will fail the exam.

I have to earn money for my parents, because they don't have enough for living. — I need to earn money for my parents, because they do not have enough to live on.

I need money. - I need money.

The whole difficulty is that in Russian they sound the same: must, must, must not, must not. When determining the desired form, look into the context, think with what intonation, thoughts the speaker wants to convey information to you.

In principle, there is nothing complicated here. The main thing is to remember the meaning and forms of the modal verb have to, which is quite common in speech. The whole difference, the difference from other modal verbs, can be comprehended by doing exercises.

Has a very wide application either alone or in conjunction with other words. In addition, there are many overlapping areas with other similar verbs.

Need to vs. have to

In order to talk about the need to do something, you can use the verb need to.

You might need to see a doctor

A number of questions need to be asked

And in contrast, to express the lack of need to do something, don’t have, don’t need to, haven’t got to or needn’t are used.

Many women don't have to work / Many women do not have to work.

You don't have to learn any new typing skills/ You don't have to learn any new typing skills.

You don't need to buy anything/ You don't need to buy anything.

I haven't got to go to work/ I don't have to go to work.

I can pick John up. You needn't bother / I can give John a lift. You don't have to trouble yourself.

Needn't is used to express permission for someone not to do something.

You needn't say anything if you don't want to/ You don't have to say anything if you don't want to.

You needn't stay any longer tonight / You don't have to stay any longer tonight.

To explain that someone did something that was not at all necessary to do, need not have or needn't have is used and Often this construction appeals to cases where, at the time of the action, the performer himself did not suspect that there was no need in doing so.

I needn't have waited until the game began

Nell needn't have worked/ Nell didn't have to work.

They needn't have worried about Reagan.

If the performer at the time of the action knew that the action was not necessary, then it would be more appropriate to say didn’t need to. This clarification is explained by the fact that in the present tense it means a hypothetical need in general, and in the past tense it means a specific action performed without need.

They didn't need to talk about it.

I didn't need to worry / I didn't need to worry.

Also, with the difference that with didn’t need to, the speaker is not sure whether the incident actually took place until he receives additional information, you can use didn’t and the modal verb have to for this. Examples:

He didn't have to speak / He didn't have to speak.

Bill and I didn't have to pay / Bill and I didn't have to pay.

must vs. have to

Must, have to are sometimes interchangeable. Thus, the verb have comes to the aid of must in the past tense, if you need to emphasize something that should not have happened in the past. You can replace must with It was necessary, It was important not to, had to make sure, had to make certain and the like had to, the modal verb in conjunction with them means “it was important / necessary”, or “it was important / necessary make sure".

It was necessary that no one was aware of being watched.

You had to make sure that you didn't spend too much.

We had to do our best to make certain that it wasn't out of date / We had to do everything in our power to make sure that it was not out of date.

It was important not to take the game too seriously.

Should and ought vs. have to

Should and ought can be used to indicate a moderate need, that is, the feeling of need is not as strong as if we used must.

Should and ought are very common in spoken English. Should, being a true modal verb, requires the following verb to be used in its base form. And ought requires a to-infinitive after itself. Negative with these verbs looks like should not, shouldn't, ought not, oughtn't and means that there is a moderate need not to do something.

There are three cases in which should, ought are put:

1) When it comes to performing some positive or right action.

We should send her a postcard. / We must send her a postcard.

2) When you want to advise someone to do something or not to do something.

You should claim your pension 3-4 months before you retire. / You must apply for a pension 3-4 months before you leave.

3) When you express your point of view or ask someone else's opinion. At the same time, in order to start a sentence, they often use: I think, I don’t think, or Do you think.

I think we should be paid more. / I think we should pay more.

Try to distinguish between the use of should, ought, and the modal verb have to. The exercises below contain gaps, fill them in:

We _______ spend all the money. / We don't have to spend all the money.

He ______ come more often. / He should come more often.

You ______ see him again. / You shouldn't see him again.

You ______ use a detergent. / You must not use detergent.

You ______ get a new TV. / You need a new TV.

You ______ marry him. You shouldn't marry him.

I don't think we ______ grumble. / I don't think we should complain.

Do you think he ______ go? / Do you think he shouldn't go?

What do you think we ______ do? / What do you think we should do?

To say that in the past there was a moderate need to do something, but the action was not performed, use should have or ought to have with the past participle. For example, if it says I should have given him the money yesterday, it means that yesterday there was a moderate need to transfer money, but the money was not transferred.

I should have finished my drink and gone home. / I had to finish my drink and go home.

You should have realized that he was joking. / You should have known he was joking.

We ought to have stayed in tonight. / We were supposed to stay that night.

They ought to have taken a taxi. / They should have called a taxi.

If it is required to say that it was important not to do something in the past, but, nevertheless, it was done, should not have, ought not to have are used. For example, if it says: I should not have left the door open, the implication is that it was important that someone did not leave the door open, but the door remained open nonetheless.

I should not have said that. / I shouldn't have said that.

You should not have given him the money. / I shouldn't have given him money.

They ought not to have told him. / They shouldn't have told him.

She oughtn't to have sold the ring. / She shouldn't have sold the ring.

Had better

Had to is used to indicate a moderate need to do something in a particular situation. At the same time, the modal verb loses to and adds better, forming had better, followed by the verb in the base form. Also had better can be used to give advice or to express one's point of view on any issue. Although usually placed immediately after had to, the modal verb and not are separated by better in this case. The negative form looks like had better not.

I think I had better show this to you now. / I think it's better to show it to you now.

You'd better go tomorrow. / You'd better go tomorrow.

Although had better is reminiscent of its form, it was never used for moderate need in the past. Moreover, the correct form is always had better (it does not say have better).

I'd better not look at this. / I better not look at it.

Thus, in the range of have values ​​there are many separate semantic units that do not always behave according to the general logic. For example, had to (the modal verb have to in form II) does not always indicate the past tense.

I must answer this letter. (= I have to answer this letter.)
I have to answer this letter.

Forms of the modal verb must:

MUST is used in all persons and can refer to the present and future tenses.

I must do it now. I have to do it now.
I must do it tomorrow. I have to do it tomorrow.

In the past time must used only in indirect speech.

Negative form: must not (mustn't).

Interrogative form: must I? etc.

Interrogative-negative form: must I not? (mustn't I?), etc.

Instead of a verb must verb can be used have to in the present and future tenses, and in the present and past tenses in colloquial form have got to, had got to etc.

In the past tense instead of a verb must the verb is used have in the past tense followed by an infinitive with to (had to) or had got to.

The interrogative form of the turnover have to is formed using the auxiliary verb to do, a have got to - by setting the verb have before the subject.

The negative form of turnover have to is formed using the auxiliary verb to do, a have got to - by posing a negation not after the verb have.

A special difference in meaning between interrogative forms in the present tense Have I got to? and Do I have to? etc. no, but the latter is preferable for expressing habitual actions. There is not much difference between the forms have to in the past tense Had I (got) to? and Did I have to? etc., but the latter is preferable.

Future turnover time have to is formed in the same way as the future simple indefinite time when using any other verb.

Why does he have to go there? (= Why has he got to go there?)
Why should he go there?

I don't have to go there. (= I haven't got to go there.)
I don't need to go there.

We didn't have to go there with John.
We didn't have to go there with John.

Did he have to go there with her?
Did he have to go there with her?

Will he have to ask her about it again?
Would he really have to ask her about it again?

I shan't have to go to that place again.
I won't have to go there again.

The use of the verbs must and have to

In affirmative form:

1. Must- to express a moral obligation, an obligation imposed by someone or coming from the speaker, as well as an internally recognized need.

You must make your bed yourself.
You must make your own bed.

Go if you must.
Go if you must (if you feel it is necessary).

I must go immediately.
I have to go immediately (because it might be late, etc.).

Have to- to express a duty, but caused by circumstances.

You will have to make your bed yourself when you join the army.
You'll have to make your own bed when you join the army. ( The army is required to do so.)

He has to get up at 7 o' clock.
He has to get up at 7 o'clock. ( Circumstances force - for example, he studies in the first shift.)

Note:
For the 1st person, this difference is less significant.
Have to usually used to express an ordinary action, often repeated, turning into a habit.
Must used to express an extremely necessary, important action.

I have to be at my office at nine every day.
I have to be at work every day at 9 o'clock.

We have to water this cactus twice a month.
We have to water this cactus twice a month.

I must ring him up at 10. It's very important.
I have to call him at 10 o'clock. It is very important.

2. Must- to express urgent advice or invitation. In such cases, translated into Russian (necessarily) must, (definitely) must.

You must come and see our new house. It's so lovely.
You should definitely come and see our new house. He is so beautiful.

You must read this article.
You should definitely read this article.

In interrogative form:

1. Must and its equivalents have to and have got to- to express obligation and necessity. At the same time, the equivalents have to and have got to are more common in these meanings in the question than must, since they do not convey additional shades of unwillingness, irritation, etc., characteristic of the use of the verb must, which means "necessarily must."

Must I go there immediately?
Do I have to go there immediately?

When does he have to go there? (When has he got to go there?)
When should he go there?

2. Have to is used more often than must to express an obligation in the future, forced from the outside.

Shall I have to answer your question? When will you have to do it?
Do I need to answer your question? When will you need to do this?

3. Have to and (less often) must used to express a common action that is often repeated.

child: Must I clean my teeth tonight?
Child: Should I brush my teeth tonight?

Do you have to wind your watch every day?
Do you have to wind your watch every day?

In the negative form, must not or need not is used.

Must not - indicates that the action is prohibited.
Need not - indicates that there is no need to perform an action.

You must not speak like that to your mother.
You shouldn't talk to your mother like that.

You mustn't miss your lectures.
You must not miss lectures.

If you have a headache need not go to school.
If you have a headache, you shouldn't go to school.

In response to a question beginning with a verb must, in the affirmative answer is used must, in the negative - needn't.

Mustn't also has the meaning of a categorical prohibition ( mustn't, shouldn't, mustn't), and therefore this form is typical for prohibiting children, expressing warnings in announcements, etc.

You mustn't go there anyway.
Either way, you can't go there.

Mustn't is also used in the sense of "not possible" in the negative answer to the question May...? (Can (can) ...?).

May I take that pen? - Can I have that pen? -
No, you mustn't. No.

2. Must used to express conjecture. At the same time, notice the difference in the use of structures

must + Indefinite Infinitive and must + Perfect Infinitive

Must + Indefinite Infinitive used to express a probability, an assumption that the speaker believes
quite plausible. This combination translates must be probably and is used in relation to an action in the present tense.

They must know his address.
1. They must (probably) know his address.
2. They must know his address.

Not must be in the library now.
1. He must be in the library now.
2. He should be in the library now.

Must + Perfect Infinitive used to express a possibility, an assumption of the same nature, but in relation to the past tense, and is also translated as must be probably.

They must have known his address.
They must have known his address.

They must have forgotten my address.
They must (probably) have forgotten my address.

She must have gone to her parents.
She must have gone to her parents.

Relative pronouns in English are pronouns that form a relative clause. These include: who, whom, which, whose, that.

Modal verbs are verbs with which we can express an attitude towards an action (necessity, obligation, possibility or probability). Let's look at one of the modal verbs - the verb ' haveto', which is used in English to express the need to perform an action or the obligation to perform it due to any circumstances.

USING THE MODAL VERB ‘HAVETO' AND ITS VALUES

It is important to note that the modal verb have to can be used in any tense:

I have to work from 8am to 5pm.

I have to work from 8 am to 5 pm.

Yesterday I had to go to the doctor.

Yesterday I had to go to the doctor.

I'll have to fix my car, it's broken again.

I need to fix the car, it broke down again.

I haven't had to go to the dentist for 2 years.

I have not been going to the dentist for two years (I do not have such a need).

Note that the modal verb have to forms the interrogative and negative forms in the same way as ordinary verbs, with the help of auxiliary do, does, did. In the negative form, the modal verb have to has the meaning DO NOT NEED.

I don't have to get up early, because I don't work tomorrow.

I don't have to get up early, I don't work tomorrow.

The bus wasn't late, so I didn't have to wait.

The bus was not late, so I didn't have to wait (I didn't have to).

Do you have to work late every day?

Do you have to work late every day?

Did she have to wait for a long time?

Did she have to wait long?

We can use ' have got to' instead of have to, since these modal verbs are interchangeable. The main difference between ‘have to’ and ‘have got to’ is that ‘ have to’ is used to express a constant or habitual need, and ‘ have got to' used to express a single need:

I have to finish my work at 6 p.m.. every day.

Every day I have to finish my work at 6 pm.

I have got to finish my work at 5 o'clock tomorrow.

Tomorrow I have to finish my work at 5 o'clock.

Modal verb have to (sometimes called a modal construction) is used to express obligation or necessity (in the affirmative or interrogative form) or absence of obligation and necessity (in the negative form). Also verb have to can express certainty, certainty, probability.

Have to is synonymous with modal verb must , and has a connotation of compulsion, due to any circumstances.

For instance:
This answer has to be correct.
This answer should be, right. ( Expresses certainty and certainty.)

They had to leave early.
Them had to leave early. ( Expresses obligation, compulsion due to circumstances.)

The soup has to be stirred continuously to prevent burning.
soup from time to time need to stir so it doesn't burn. ( Expresses a need.)

Using the modal verb have to in the present, past and future tense

In most cases, the use of modal verbs in the past and future is different from other verbs. The table below shows modal verb usage have to in different situations.

Remember:
Design do not have to means no need, but not a ban, while the design must not means a strict ban.