Have to in English: Grammar Structure, Usage Rules & Practice Exercises

Form

Have to with infinitive verbs

Have to in the past tense

Have to in the negative tense

Structure

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

Expresses tasks or obligations stemming from external factors. Maintains a formal tone, making it suitable for written communication and professional contexts.

Indicates future necessity arising from the speaker's own requirements rather than external influences.

Indicates future necessity arising from the speaker's own requirements rather than external influences.

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 express obligation or necessity to perform actions.

Differences

Expresses obligations from external factors: requests from others, laws, regulations, or institutional requirements.

The negative form "not have to" indicates absence of obligation—something is optional or unnecessary.

Conveys obligations from internal motivation: personal responsibility, self-imposed duties, or independent decisions.

The negative form "must not" expresses prohibition with serious implications—something is forbidden.

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 express requirements to perform actions.

Differences

Refers to specific tasks or responsibilities that must be completed due to external demands.

The negative form "not have to" indicates absence of mandatory requirements.

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

The negative form "not need to" expresses that something is unnecessary without implying obligation.

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 express important actions that need completion.

Differences

Refers to specific tasks or responsibilities that must be performed. Carries stronger obligation than advisory constructions.

Emphasizes mandatory compliance with external requirements.

Both convey gentle advice or suggestions rather than firm obligations.

"Ought to" suggests duties or responsibilities; "should" offers advice or recommendations.

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