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Questions and Answers
What is the main difference between 'must' and 'have to' in terms of formality?
What is the main difference between 'must' and 'have to' in terms of formality?
Which of the following sentences uses 'must' to express a rule?
Which of the following sentences uses 'must' to express a rule?
What is the negation of 'must'?
What is the negation of 'must'?
Which of the following sentences uses 'have to' to express a personal obligation?
Which of the following sentences uses 'have to' to express a personal obligation?
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What is the main difference between 'must' and 'have to' in terms of obligation?
What is the main difference between 'must' and 'have to' in terms of obligation?
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What is the negation of 'have to'?
What is the negation of 'have to'?
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Study Notes
Verbs of Necessity: Must and Have To
Must
- Expresses strong obligation, necessity, or requirement
- Often used to talk about rules, laws, or strong advice
- Can be used in the present, past, and future tenses
- Negation: must not (prohibition)
- Examples:
- You must be 18 to vote. (rule)
- You must try this cake. (strong advice)
- I must finish this project by tomorrow. (strong obligation)
Have To
- Expresses necessity, obligation, or requirement, but can be stronger or weaker than "must"
- Often used to talk about internal or external obligations
- Can be used in the present, past, and future tenses
- Negation: don't have to (lack of obligation)
- Examples:
- I have to go to the doctor tomorrow. (internal obligation)
- You have to try this new restaurant. (strong recommendation)
- She had to work on weekends. (past obligation)
Key Differences
- "Must" is often used for stronger obligations, while "have to" can be used for weaker or more personal obligations
- "Must" is more formal and often used in writing, while "have to" is more informal and commonly used in spoken language
- "Must" implies a sense of urgency or importance, while "have to" can imply a sense of necessity without urgency
Verbs of Necessity: Must and Have To
Must
- Used to express strong obligation, necessity, or requirement
- Often used to talk about rules, laws, or strong advice
- Can be used in present, past, and future tenses
- Negation: must not (prohibition)
- Example uses:
- Expressing rules: You must be 18 to vote
- Giving strong advice: You must try this cake
- Expressing strong obligation: I must finish this project by tomorrow
Have To
- Used to express necessity, obligation, or requirement, with varying degrees of strength
- Often used to talk about internal or external obligations
- Can be used in present, past, and future tenses
- Negation: don't have to (lack of obligation)
- Example uses:
- Expressing internal obligation: I have to go to the doctor tomorrow
- Giving strong recommendations: You have to try this new restaurant
- Expressing past obligation: She had to work on weekends
Key Differences
- Must is often used for stronger obligations, while have to can be used for weaker or more personal obligations
- Must is more formal, often used in writing, while have to is more informal, commonly used in spoken language
- Must implies a sense of urgency or importance, while have to can imply a sense of necessity without urgency
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Description
Learn about the differences and uses of the verbs 'must' and 'have to' in English grammar, including expressing strong obligation, necessity, and requirement.
