What is Have to? English Knowledge about Have to

Structure

Have to with infinitive verbs

Have to in the past tense

Have to in the negative tense

Công thức 

S + have/has to + Verb (infinitive)

S + had to + Verb (infinitive)

S + do/does/did + not + have to + V

Tense

Present tense

Past tense

Negative sentence

Example

• I have to audit 45 articles on this website this month. 

• Bella has to finish 5 manual user documents this month. 

• Last month, I had to write 15 article websites. 

• Last week, I had to attend 3 meetings. 

• We do not have to wear uniforms on Fridays. 

• We did not have to pay for the entrance tickets because they were free.

Structure

Have to 

Will have to 

Have got to 

Usage

The "have to" structure is commonly used to talk about tasks or obligations that need to be done due to external factors. It carries a formal tone and is often used in written communication.

The "will have to" structure is used to express a necessity that arises from the speaker's own need, rather than from an external influence.

In addition to "have to," we can use "have got to" with a similar meaning, but it has a more casual and less formal tone. In spoken English, it can often be shortened to "'ve got to."

Example

According to the regulation, all PREP employees have to wear uniforms every Monday. 

I will have to do something about my new computer.

We have got to wear uniforms every Monday. 

Distinguishing Between "Have to" and "Must"

Have to

Must

Similarities

Both "must" and "have to" are used to express an obligation or something that needs to be done.

Differences

Expresses an obligation that arises from external factors, such as requests from others, laws, or regulations.

The negative form "not have to" indicates that something is not mandatory and is not necessary.

Expresses an obligation that comes from within: the speaker feels it is necessary or has a responsibility to do something, making independent decisions.

The negative form "must not" conveys prohibition and has a serious tone.

Example

• I have to attend an important sales meeting. 

• I don't have to report on the traffic this week. 

• You must be self-motivated to study without being reminded. 

• You must not leave early more than 30 minutes before without the manager's approval. 

Distinguishing Between "Have to" and "Need to"

Have to

Need to

Similarities

Both "have to" and "need" express a requirement to perform an action.

Differences

Refers specifically to a task or responsibility that must be done.

The negative form "not have to" indicates that something is not mandatory or necessary.

Indicates necessity or requirement without implying an obligation, often reflecting personal needs or desires.

The negative form "not need to" expresses that something is not necessary to do.

Example

• Anna does not have to finish this task today. 

• Bella has to submit a leave request. 

• I need to finish this translation before this afternoon. 

• I don't need to send the report this week. 

Distinguishing Between "Have to" and "Should/Ought to"

Have to

Should/Ought to

Similarities

Both "have to" and "should/ought to" express something important that needs to be done.

Differences

Refers specifically to a task or responsibility that must be performed. It carries a stronger sense of obligation than "should" or "ought to."

Both convey the meaning of "should," expressing gentle advice or suggestions.

"Ought to" leans more toward duties or responsibilities, whereas "should" is more about offering advice or suggestions.

Example

• I have to finish the English listening exercise within 20 minutes. 

• You have to submit the exam on time or you will fail the subject. 

• You should go to bed early to maintain your beauty. 

• You ought to do the dishes right after you finish eating. 

Phrase

Meaning

Example

have time to kill

to have free time that you do not know how to spend; to have spare time.

Since my flight is delayed, I have time to kill at the airport.

have someone to thank (for something)

to have a person who is responsible for something positive; to owe gratitude to someone for a particular outcome or benefit.

I have my teacher to thank for helping me get into college.

have money to burn

to have an excess of money, often used to describe someone who spends money wastefully on unnecessary things.

He's a millionaire with money to burn. He can buy whatever he wants. 

have nothing to lose

to be in a situation where you risk nothing; to have no assets or advantages that could be harmed or lost in a given situation

Since I'm already unemployed, I have nothing to lose by starting my own business. 

have something to play with

to have an abundance or excess of something that can be used for a particular purpose or activity; to have more than enough resources to engage in a task or enjoy freely

I have a little extra money to play with this month, so I think I'll buy a new video game. 

Exercise 1

1. C

2. B

3. A

4. C

5. A

Exercise 2

1. have to

2. must

3. have to

4. mustn't

5. must