MUST AND HAVE TO
Say what you must and mustn’t do:
At the airport At the swimming pool In a library
At school in England In a carpark Driving
Wear a cap keep your ticket wear a uniform use your mirrors
Run indicate arrive on time show your ID
Be quiet take a shower pass a test raise your hand
Talk leave bags unattended smoke keep your distance
What is the difference?
You have to park within the white lines or You must park within the white lines
Have to… things you have on a list
Tell me the things that you have to do to prepare for a holiday in another country.
- What do you have to pack?
- What do you have to buy?
- What do you have to research?
- What do you have to book?
- What do you have to remember?
Would it be OK to use must for this list
Must… emotional obligations
Often used with really. For example, I really must buy a present for John’s birthday
- A family member who is ill I really must go and visit Auntie Rita in hospital
- A charity
- You have received a gift
- You don’t want to go to a party
- You refuse a gift from someone
Need to, have to, must
- You need to take some form of ID to the airport
- If you are travelling to Portugal you don’t need a passport. Your ID card is enough
- You needn’t go to check-in if you only have one small bag
Notice you can’t say You needn’t a passport
- You mustn’t carry knives or explosives onto the plane
- You must show your ID at passport control
- You have to put your bag under your seat
- You don’t have to wear the seatbelt once the light goes out
Notice you can’t say You haven’t to wear a seatbelt…
- You can’t stand up before the plane comes to a standstill
Notice have to cannot be used for a negative obligation
You have to practise, if you want to get better at English. You needn’t spend hours every day, but the more you do, the better you get. Reading aloud will improve your pronunciation and memory. You must have some self-discipline and read a little every day.
Here are some exercises to help you practise: