IN English language modal verb have to is very popular. It can be translated into Russian in different ways: “to be forced”, “to be due”, “have to”, “must”. From this article you will learn about in what situations you should use a modal verb have to and how to do it correctly. And also listen to how residents of the UK and USA pronounce it.

Features of the modal verb have to

In this section we will tell you everything you need to know about the modal verb have to to use it correctly.

1. Modal verb have to changes over time:
   • Present tense with pronouns he(He), she(she), it(it) is used has to, and with I(I), you(you, you, you), we(We), they(They) - have to.
     

     She works as a journalist. She has to write an article. – She works as a journalist. She must to write an article.

   • In the past time have to changes to had to.
     

     She worked as a journalist. She had to write articles. – She worked as a journalist. To her had to write articles.

   • In the future tense have to can be used with will to express the need, obligation to do something, and with may/might to express the likelihood that something will need to be done.
     

     If it rains tomorrow, I 'll have to take an umbrella. - If it rains tomorrow, I will I'll have to take an umbrella.

     You may have to go to the doctor next week. – Maybe, you have to go to the doctor next week.

2. Interrogative sentences with have to are formed using auxiliary verbs: do, does- in present time, did– in the past; will- in future.
   

   What do I have to do to stop you? - What am I must what to do to stop you?

   Why did you have to spend so much money? - Why do you had to spend so much money?

3. Negative form have to (don't/doesn't have to) is translated by the words “not necessary”, “not necessary”, “no need” and expresses the absence of need for something. note: We can perform an action, but there is no need for it. Do not confuse with modal verb mustn't, which expresses a strict prohibition.
   

   You don't have to dress up for the party, but you can if you want to. – Not necessary dress up for a party, but you can do it if you want.

   I didn't have to leave. It was still early. - To me there was no need leave. It was still early.

   You will not have to meet me. - You you won't have to to meet me.

4. Instead of have to you can use the design have got to ('ve got to). This expression is often used colloquially as a synonym have to. More about the design have got to you can read in .
   

   You have to press the doorbell three times. = You 've got to press the doorbell three times. – Need to press the doorbell three times.

Functions of the modal verb have to

In this section we will tell you in what situations you can use a modal verb have to:

1. Obligation, necessity- obligation, necessity.

   By using have to you can say that you are obliged or you need to do something because of some external circumstances. This is the main function of the modal verb have to.

   You have to turn right here. You can't turn left. - You must turn right here. You can't turn left.

   He is responsible for his family. He has to work without weekends. – He is responsible for his family. He forced work seven days a week.

   In this function have to easily confused with a modal verb must. Must, like have to, serves to express obligation or necessity. However must expresses the need to do something due to some reason personal aspirations.

   I haven’t seen my grandmother for a long time. I must visit her. – I haven’t seen my grandmother for a long time. I must visit her.

   My boss is waiting for me. I have to go now. - My boss is waiting for me. I forced go.

2. Deduction, logical assumption- a logical conclusion or assumption.

   We can use have to to say that based on something we have made some kind of conclusion, assumption. However, more often the modal verb is used must.

   The sun is shining. It has to/must be warm outside. - The sun is shining. On the street, there must be, warm.

3. Advice or recommendation- advice or recommendation.

   By using have to you can give advice if you want to convince a person to do something. When translating into Russian, the word “should” should be used.

   You have to try this cake. It's very tasty. - You must try this cake. It is very tasty.

   You have to see that play. You'll like it. - You must watch that performance. You'll like it.

Usually a modal verb have to difficult to distinguish in the stream of English speech. We invite you to listen to how Londoners pronounce it in this video.

And in this video there is an American Rachel will not only tell you how to pronounce have to in the American manner, but will also teach you how to do it.

Thanks to its versatility have to is one of the most popular verbs in the English language. With its help, you can express your needs, make suggestions and give advice.

We told you the most important information about the modal verb have to. We suggest checking how you have mastered it using our test.

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Test

Modal verb have to

Is ambiguous. It can be used as an independent semantic verb with the meaning “to have, possess”, as an auxiliary in complex verb forms and as a modal with a particle to in the sense of obligation/necessity.

Modal verb have to and its meaning

Modal verb have to expresses the meaning of obligation or necessity caused by some external circumstances: “forced, forced, obliged due to this or that situation.”

He has to wear a tie at work. — He has to wear a tie to work (the dress code obliges him).
Children have to go to school. — Children need (need) to go to school.
You have to be back at 10 o'clock. — You need to be back at 10 o'clock.

I have got to go now. - Now I have to go (I have to go now).
He has got to take this book back to the library or he will get a fine. — He must return this book to the library, otherwise he will receive a fine.

Forms of the modal verb have to

Modal verb have to used in present, past and future tenses. After have to followed by a verb in an indefinite form (simple infinitive).

Modal verb have to in the Present Simple

Present Simple (present simple tense): have to / has to(3 l. units)

I have to go. — I have to go. / I don't have to go. - I don't have to go. / Do you have to go? - You have to go?
He has to go. — He needs to go. /He doesn't have to go. - He doesn't have to go. / Does he have to go? - Does he have to go?

In Present Simple (present simple tense) modal verb have to still has shape has to for 3rd person singular ( he, she, it), for all other persons - have to. Negation is formed using an auxiliary verb do/ does(for 3 l. units), after which a particle is placed not:

don't have to=don't have to
does not have to=doesn't have to

They don't have to go. She doesn't have to go.

To generate questions do/ does(for 3 l. units) is placed at the beginning of the sentence:

Do they have to go? Does she have to go?

I have got to go (=I’ve got to go). — I haven't got to go. — Have you got to go?
He has got to go (=He’s got to go). - No hasn't got to go. — Has he got to go?

Modal verb have to in Past Simple

Past Simple(past simple tense): had to

I had to go. - I had to go.
I didn't have to go. - I didn't have to go.
Did you have to go? -Did you have to go?

In Past Simple (past simple tense) have to has the shape had to did:

did not have to = didn't have to

They didn't have to go. Did they have to go?

Modal verb have to in the Future Simple

Future Simple(future simple tense): will have to

I will have to go. - I'll have to go.
I won't have to go. - I don't have to go.
Will you have to go? - Do you have to go?

In the Future Simple (future simple tense) have to has the shape will have to(for all persons). Questions and negatives are formed using an auxiliary verb will:

will not have to = won't have to

They won't have to go. Will they have to go?

The modal verb have to in different tenses. Usage examples

Pay attention to sentences with a modal verb have to at different times:

Jane has to get up early to catch the coach (Present Simple). Jane has to get up early to catch the bus.

It was something she had to agree to (Past Simple). “It was something she was forced to agree to.”

You’ve just broken the law and you will have to answer for it (Future Simple). “You simply broke the law, and you will have to answer for it.”

You don't have to cheer up if you don’t want to (Present Simple)! “You don’t have to have fun if you don’t want to.”

Why did you have to stay at home yesterday (Past Simple)? — Because my parents were not at home and I had to look after my little sister. - Why did you have to stay home yesterday? “Because my parents weren’t at home, and I had to look after my little sister.”

Will you have to get up early tomorrow (Future Simple)? - Will you have to get up early tomorrow?

Have to or must?

Modal verb have to very close in meaning to the modal verb, it is even often called the equivalent must. But there is still a difference in the values: must means an obligation/necessity based on the personal opinion of the speaker, and have to- a necessity caused by external circumstances.

Children must wear a uniform at school. — Children should wear a uniform at school (this is mandatory and correct, I think so).

Children have to wear a uniform at school. — Children must (are forced) to wear a uniform at school (this is mandatory, these are the rules).

The phrase have to in English is presented with examples.

In the previous topic, the modal verb must was discussed in detail, and in this topic its synonymous phrase have to will be studied.

If we want to say that something needs to be done, then we need to use either the modal verb must or the verb have to. In some cases there is no difference between them.

We can say:

I must have a driving license to drive a car = I have to have a driving license to drive a car - To drive a car, I need to have a driver's license.

But often there is a difference between the verb must and the verb have to.

Must is used when someone says exactly what they say
(she, they, etc.) considers it necessary. Study some examples.

You must apologize for being so curt with her - You must apologize for being so harsh with her.
She must stay here - She must stay here.
You must not look at him - You must not look at him.

The turn have to is used when necessity is caused by circumstances, and someone is forced to do something.

I have to wash my car - I have to wash my car.
I have lost my copy-book. I have to write the essay again - I lost my notebook. I have to write my essay again.
Mary can't go to the disco. She has to work - Maria cannot go to the disco. It must work.

It should also be noted that we do not use have to to express an order.

The turn have to replaces the modal verb must in those tenses where must cannot be used (must can only be in the present tense). Study some examples.

She had to wait for him - She had to wait for him.
I had to stay there - I had to stay there.
You had to help her - You had to help her.
Have you ever had to go there? -Have you ever had to go there?

Consider the negative and interrogative forms of have to.

Negative form

To make a negative sentence with the turn have to, you must use the appropriate auxiliary verb and the negative particle not.

You don’t have to go there - You don’t need to go there.
I don’t have to answer him - I don’t need to answer him.
I didn’t have to send the letter - I didn’t need to send the letter.

Interrogative form

In order to make an interrogative sentence with the turn have to, you need to put the appropriate auxiliary verb in front of the subject.

Why do you have to do it? - Why should you do this?
When do you have to leave the country? — When should you leave the country?
Did you have to call him? — Did you have to call him?

It is important to remember that there is a distinct difference between don’t have to and mustn’t.

When we say you mustn’t do something, we mean - I need you not to do this.

You mustn’t shout at him - You must not shout at him.
You must not wait for me - You must not wait for me.

when we speak you don't have to do something, We mean - there is no need to do this; there is no need for this.

I don’t have to learn French - I don’t need to learn French.
You don't have to wash the car. I have already washed it - You don’t need to wash the car. I've already washed it.

The verb have in Englishrefers to the most frequently used verbs in speech. U verb have many meanings, it can act as a semantic or auxiliary.

Besides him direct meaning- to have, to possess, to have, this verb is involved in a huge number of expressions and phrases in which it acquires a much broader meaning.

Using have/hasduring the time of the group Simple

The verb have has two forms in the present tense:

• have - combines with all persons except the 3rd person singular (I, you, we, they)
• has - combines exclusively with the 3rd person singular (he, she, it)

In the past tense, this verb has one form for all persons- had, and in the future - will have for all persons and the almost no longer used form shall have for the first person singular and plural.

In British English, have got / has got is often used instead of have, without changing the meaning of the verb.

In colloquial speech, it is also common to use have got instead of have in the present tense to mean “to have.”

I have got an idea.- I have an idea.

Short version: I’ve got an idea.

"Got" This is the past tense of the verb to get. Literally the phrase is translated as “I got an idea,” but it is understood as “I have an idea.”

The verb have in the affirmative form

The verb have in the negative form

The verb have in interrogative form

Useto have in English

As mentioned above, this verb can take on different meanings. To use it correctly, you need to understand what have means in each specific case.

1. Ownership, possession.

This is the first and main meaning: to have, to possess. Translated, most often, according to the scheme “someone has something.” Depending on the context, have can be translated as “to have”, “to possess” or “to own”.

I have a car.- I have a car.
He has a big house.- He has a big house.
We had a lot of books.- We had a lot of books.
She had some questions.- She had several questions.

Have can also be translated as “to have in stock”, “to have”.

have a chance- have a chance
have an opportunity- to have a possibility
have time- have time
have money- have money

When describing appearance, the verb have is also used.

I have long hair.- I have long hair.
He has green eyes. - He has green eyes.

In this meaning, have is used as an ordinary semantic verb, therefore, to form the negative and interrogative forms, auxiliary verbs are used:

• Present Simple - do/does
• Past Simple - did

I don't have a yacht.- I don't have a yacht.
He does not have a girlfriend. - He doesn't have a girlfriend.
You didn't have much money. - You didn't have a lot of money.

In short answers to general questions, we do not use have, but an auxiliary verb of the tense in which the question is asked.

Do you have a yacht? - Yes, I do./No, I don’t.
Does he have a girlfriend? - Yes, he does./No, he doesn’t.
Did you have much money?- Yes, we did./No, we didn’t.

1. Relationship.

Have/has is used whenIt's about family and loved ones. Although the translation would be similar to the previous meaning, “someone (has) someone,” the meaning would be a relation to people, not a possession.

I have two sisters.- I have two sisters.
We have a lot of friends.- We (have) many friends.
They have a big family.- They (have) a big family.

In this and the previous meaning, the verb have is a State Verb. This means that it cannot be used in Continuous tenses, since the action itself cannot be observed.

1. Actions.

In addition to its main meanings, the verb have can replace other verbs, so it “has taken root” in speech in these combinations.

Have in the meaning of eat:

have breakfast/lunch/dinner- have breakfast, lunch, dinner
have a sandwich for breakfast- eat a sandwich for breakfast
I will have a salad and some chicken, please. - I will (eat) salad and chicken, please.
What do you have for dinner?- What do you eat for dinner?
He is having breakfast now.- He's having breakfast now.

Have in the meaning drink (drink):

have some coffee/tea- drink coffee, tea
have a glass of wine- drink a glass of wine
I will have a cup of green tea. - I will (drink) a cup of green tea.
You should have some water if you are hot. - You should drink water if you feel hot.

Have in the meaning suffer from (suffer from) or experience (survive, experience):

have a headache- suffer from a headache
have a cold- suffer from a cold
have a cough- suffer from cough
I am having a terrible toothache! - I have a terrible toothache!
have an accident- survive the accident
have a difficulty- experience difficulties

Have in the meaning of give birth to (give birth):

have a baby- give a birth to a baby
She is going to have a baby.- She will have a child.
They want to have three children. - They want to have three children.
Our dog had four puppies.- Our dog gave birth to four puppies.

Have in the meaning of get (receive, buy):

have news- get news
have information- get information
have a home assignment- get homework
I must have those shoes!- I have to buy those shoes!

Have in combination with a noun conveys a single short-term action, the meaning of which depends on the noun:

have a walk- take a walk
have a look- look
have a bath/shower- take a shower/bath
have a talk- talk
have a conversation- talk
have a drink- drink
have a swim- swim
have a ride- take a ride
have a nap- take a nap

In the above expressions, have replaces another verb, which is an action verb. In these values verb have can be used in Continuous tenses.

1. Auxiliary verb in Perfect tenses.

Have in combination with the third form of verbs forms perfect forms. Depending on the time, the form of the verb have changes, but the third form remains unchanged:

• Present Perfect uses present tense forms (have and has)
• in Past Perfect - past (had)
• in Future Perfect - will have.

I have just drunk my first morning cup of coffee. - I just had my first cup of coffee of the morning.

The train has already arrived at the railway station by now. - The train has already arrived railway station for now.

1. Design Have smth done.

This is a passive construction that is used to talk about some services, the service that is provided to us; the action is not performed independently.

For example, if in Russian the phrase sounds like “I want to cut my hair,” in English it will be something like “I want to have my hair cut” when translated literally. This means that I won’t cut my hair myself, I will have it cut at a hairdresser. In English this phrase would sound like “I want to have my hair cut” using verb have.

Examples

Present Simple

I have my nails manicured every month. - I get a manicure every month.

Present Continuous

I'm having some programs installed now. - I'm currently installing some programs.

Be going to

I'm going to have my grass mown. - They're going to mow my lawn.

Present Perfect

She hasn’t had her car washed yet. - She hasn't had her car washed yet.

Past Simple

I had my eyes tested yesterday - I had my eyes checked yesterday.

Past Continuous

I was having my hair dyed.- I had my hair dyed.

Past Perfect

By the time you came, she had had her hair done. - By the time you arrived, she had already had her hair done.

Future Simple

I will have my computer fixed. - They'll fix my computer.

It is the verb have that changes in accordance with time, the verb of the action itself is always in the third form, in the form of the past participle (as in all passive constructions).

1. Construction Have smb do smth.

This construction is used when talking about “getting someone to do something” or “getting someone to do something.”

He had me sign the agreement. - He made me sign an agreement.

I’ll have you speak English soon! - I'll make you speak English soon! (I will make sure you speak English).

So, the use of the verb have is determined by its meaning and role - whether it is semantic or auxiliary in a given sentence.

In English, modal verbs express the speaker's attitude towards the content of the utterance. In one of our previous articles, we already looked at the main characteristics of modal verbs and talked about the verbs can and may.
Continuing this topic, we will look at the features of using another group of modal verbs: must, have to, be to.

Must

Must is a pure modal verb that has only one form and can characterize an attitude to action in the present or future tense. After must the semantic verb is used in the initial form without a particle to:

You must take the pills.- You must take your medicine.
You must finish the work tomorrow. - You must finish work tomorrow.

1. Must expresses the need to perform any action due to personal beliefs, circumstances, principles and is translated must, must.

This verb is the most categorical in this group. In affirmative sentences he expresses the greatest degree debt And strong recommendation, and in negation it will take on the meaning categorical prohibition:

He must see the doctor. - He needs (simply necessary, otherwise the matter will end in tears) to see a doctor./ circumstances

We must see the film. - We must watch this film (this cannot be missed)./ personal beliefs

He musn't enter my room. - He is forbidden to enter my room./ categorical prohibition in a commanding tone

2. In the second person (when using the pronoun you) modal verb must expresses direct order:

You must listen to me. - You have to listen to me.

3. In function must includes the expression assumption that borders on certainty. We're talking about a high probability here (surely it should be):

You must be joking. - You must be joking.

He must be ill. - He's probably sick.

For expression negative probability (probably not/must not be) a negative adverb should be used never or negative particles/prefixes.
It should be noted that the proposal will acquire the character of a categorical prohibition as soon as must attaches not. Compare two examples:

You must never have seen this film. - You must not have seen this film.

You mustn't see this film. - You shouldn't watch this film.

Linguists classify verbs be to And have to to modal equivalents, since these verbs can also be used independently in a sentence and be auxiliary.

Have to

In the meaning of modality have to expresses the need to perform an action that is caused by circumstances (forced, will have to, must). Here comes the complete absence of voluntary aspiration:

I have to finish this painting. - I need to finish this picture(although I no longer have any desire to do this).

She had to come to the party. Her boss asked her to. - She had to go to the party because her boss asked her to.

1. Verb have to cannot form interrogative and negative sentences independently and needs the help of an auxiliary do/ does/ did:

Do you have to make the report? - Do you really need to make a report?

2. In negative sentences have to speaks from no need and expresses the meaning not necessary, not necessary:

3. Unlike must modal verb have to used at any time in any form. Moreover, it is the form had to is the equivalent must in the past time:

I must do it. - I must do it./ Present Simple

I had to do it. - I had to do it./ Past Simple

Be to

Be to expresses in a modal sense the need to perform an action due to some schedule or plan. In most cases, the use of this verb directly depends on the indication of the time frame:

We are to leave in 20 minutes. - We have to leave in 20 minutes.

1. Be to can be used in the present and past tense and express duty/position. It is presented in its forms depending on the person performing the action:

He was to come in an hour. - He was supposed to come in an hour.

When are you to see the doctor? - When will you see the doctor?

2. Also be to used to express categorical ban. Similar sentences can be found in the rules of use or rules of conduct in public places:

Visitors are not to take photos. - No photography allowed.

3. In modal meaning be to expresses fundamental impossibility any action:

This research is not to be done in one day. - This research cannot be done in one day.

They are not to grow up in one night. - They won't grow overnight./ It's impossible.

We wish you interesting practice and success in your studies!

Victoria Tetkina