Have to modal. Have to modal verb: meaning, patterns and uses
It has a very wide application both independently and in conjunction with other words. In addition, there are many overlapping areas with other similar verbs.
Need to vs. have to
To talk about the need to do something, you can use the verb need to.
You might need to see a doctor.
A number of questions need to be asked. A certain number of questions must be asked.
And in contrast, don’t have, don’t need to, haven’t got to or needn’t to express the lack of need to do something.
Many women don’t have to work. Many women do not have to work.
You don’t have to learn any new typing skills. You don’t have to learn any new typing skills.
You don’t need to buy anything.
I haven’t got to go to work / I don't have to go to work.
I can pick John up. You needn’t bother / I can toss John. You don’t have to bother.
In order to express permission to someone not to do anything, needn’t is used.
You needn’t say anything if you don’t want to / You don’t have to say anything if you don’t want to.
You needn’t stay any longer tonight. You don’t have to stay longer tonight.
To clarify that someone did something that was not necessary to do at all, need not have or needn't have been used and Often such a design appeals to cases where, at the time the action was taken, the performer himself did not suspect that there was no need in the commission of such.
I needn’t have waited until the game began. I did not have to wait until the game started.
Nell needn’t have worked. Nel didn't have to work.
They needn’t have worried about Reagan. They did not have to worry about Reagan.
If the performer at the time of the action knew that there was no need for the action, then it would be more appropriate to say didn’t need to. Such a clarification is explained by the fact that in the present tense we have in mind a hypothetical necessity in general, and in the past tense it is meant a specific action, committed without necessity.
They didn’t need to talk about it / They shouldn't have talked about it.
I didn’t need to worry. I didn’t need to worry.
Also, with the difference that when didn’t need to, the speaker is not sure whether the incident actually took place until he receives additional information, for this you could use didn’t and the modal verb have to. Examples:
He didn’t have to speak. He didn’t have to speak.
Bill and I didn’t have to pay / Bill and I did not have to pay.
Must vs. have to
Must, have to are sometimes used interchangeably. So, the verb have comes to the aid of must in the past tense, if you need to focus on something that should not have happened in the past. You can replace must with It was necessary, It was important not to, had to make sure, had to make certain and the like had to, the modal verb in conjunction with them means "it was important / necessary", or "important / necessary make sure".
It was necessary that no one was aware of being watched. It was absolutely essential that no one suspect that he was being watched.
You had to make sure that you didn’t spend too much. You should make sure that you did not spend too much.
We had to do our best to make certain that it wasn’t out of date / We had to do everything in our power to make sure that it was not outdated.
It was important not to take the game too seriously. It was important not to take the game too seriously.
Should and ought vs. have to
Should and ought can be used to talk about moderate necessity, that is, the feeling of necessity is not as strong as if we used must.
Should and ought are very common in spoken English. Should, being a truly modal verb, requires the use of the subsequent verb in basic form. And ought requires a to-infinitive. Denial with these verbs looks like should not, shouldn’t, ought not, oughtn’t and means that there is a moderate need not to do anything.
There are three cases in which should, ought is put:
1) When it comes to the performance of any positive or correct action.
We should send her a postcard. / We must send her a postcard.
2) When you want to advise someone to do something or not to do.
You should claim your pension 3-4 month before you retire. / You must apply for retirement 3-4 months before leaving.
3) When you express your point of view or ask someone else's opinion. Moreover, in order to start a sentence, the following are often used: I think, I don’t think, or Do you think.
I think that we should be paid more. / I think we should pay more.
Try to distinguish between cases where should, ought and the modal verb have to are used. The exercises below contain omissions, fill them out:
We _______ spend all the money. / We do not have to spend all the money.
He ______ come more often. / He should come more often.
You ______ see him again. / You should not see him again.
You ______ use a detergent. / You should not use detergent.
You ______ get a new TV. / You need a new TV.
You ______ marry him. You should not marry him.
I don’t think we ______ grumble. / I do not think we should complain.
Do you think he ______ go? / Do you think he should not go?
What do you think we ______ do? / What do you think we should do?
To say that in the past there was a moderate need to do something, but the action was not completed, the following are used: should have or ought to have with the past participle. For example, if I should have given him the money yesterday, it means that there was a moderate need to transfer money yesterday, but the money was not transferred.
I should have finished my drink and gone home. / I had to finish my drink and go home.
You should have realized that he was joking. / You should have understood that he was joking.
We ought to have stayed in tonight. / We had to stay that night.
They ought to have taken a taxi. / They should have called a taxi.
If you want to say that it was important not to do something in the past, but nevertheless it was done, should not have, ought not to have. For example, if it says: I should not have left the door open, it is understood that it was important that someone did not leave the door open, but the door nonetheless remained open.
I should not have said that. / I should not have said that.
You should not have given him the money. / I should not have given him money.
They ought not to have told him. / They should not have told him.
She oughtn’t to have sold the ring. / She should not have sold the ring.
Had better
To indicate a moderate need to do something in a particular situation, had to was used. In this case, the modal verb loses to and is added better, forming a had better, accompanied by a verb in the basic form. Also, had better can be used to give advice or to express one’s point of view on any issue. Although usually placed immediately after had to, the modal verb and not in this case are better separated. The negative form looks like had better not.
I think I had better show this to you now. / I think it's better to show you this now.
You’d better go tomorrow. / You better go tomorrow.
Although had better resembles in form it is never used for moderate necessity in the past. Moreover, the correct form is always had better (they do not say have better).
I’d better not look at this. / I better not look at that.
Thus, in the range of values, there are many separate semantic units, which far from always behave according to the general logic. For example, had to (the modal verb have to in II form) does not always indicate the past tense.
The turn to have to (as well as the verb must) in the English language means "to be obliged, obligated." Often the actions in it are forced, since they are not dependent on the person and are caused by external causes.
Table: Turnover have to
I won’t be at work tomorrow. I have to go to the doctor. I won’t be at work tomorrow. I have to go to the doctor.
Linda has to get up early. She works very hard. Linda should get up early. She works a lot.
You have to do an exam at the end of the course. You must pass the exam at the end of the course.
In the past tense, the construction takes the form had to:
I wasn’t at work yesterday. I had to go to the doctor. I was not at work yesterday. I had to go to the doctor.
We went to the store last night. We had to buy some food. We went to the store last night. We had to buy some food.
2
In interrogative and negative sentences, the form of the verb do is added to have to. The rules are the same as in Present Simple and Past Simple.
Table: Turnover have to and past tense
What time do you have to leave? When should you leave?
Does Jane have to work on Saturdays? Should Jane work on Saturdays?
How much did you have to pay for the new house? How much did you have to pay for a new home?
I’m not going anywhere tomorrow, so I don’t have to get up early. I’m not going anywhere tomorrow, so I don’t have to get up early.
Ian doesn’t have to meet me. I know the way. Ian should not meet me. I know the way.
Dan didn’t have to wait very long. The bus arrived soon. Dan did not have to wait very long. The bus arrived soon.
3
Both forms can be used when a personal opinion is expressed on what should be done:
If there is a statement of fact, and not a personal opinion, only have to is used.
Jane won’t be at work today. She has to go to the doctor. Jane will not be at work today. She must go to the doctor.
In many countries, men have to do military service. In many countries, men have to do military service.
In order to exist in this world, we have to do things daily, which are dictated by duty, which we are obliged to do, whether we want it or not. The modal have to in English is used precisely to denote this kind of celebration. In other words, if the speaker implies that he must do something not of his own free will, but because such circumstances are or if a sense of duty requires it, it is precisely have have to.
Have got to VS have to
Have to have another option, have got to. It should not be confused with a functional verb, which means to have.
Unlike have to, which indicates a repeated action, have got to is used when the speaker implies something specific.
For example:
- I have to write these letters whatever happens - I have to write these letters, no matter what happens.
- I have got to write to him, don’t you understand it? - I have to write to him. Do not you understand?
- I have to visit her every day, as my mom said - I have to visit her daily, as my mother said.
- I have got to go to her place, will you go with me? - I have to visit her, will you come with me?
In all cases, the action performed by the speaker is dictated by a sense of duty, and not by internal impulses.
In practice, in colloquial speech, the have to option is often used to indicate both a repeating and a specific single action.
The modal verb have to as a substitute for must and needn’t
In some cases, have to and have got to replace must, although they are not its direct equivalents. So, if must cannot be used grammatically, have to is set. This rule holds true for past and future past, as well as negative expressions. For example:
- I must help him - I must help him.
- I had to help him - I had to help him.
- I will have to help him - I will have to help him.
- I don’t have to help him - I shouldn't have helped him.
Please note that the mustn’t form was not used in the negative sentence because it is translated not “should not”, but “not”. For comparison:
- You mustn’t go there, it’s too dangerous for a kid - You must not go there, it is very dangerous for the child.
- You don’t have to go there, it’s not your work to pick berries - You don’t have to go there, picking berries is not your task.
In the case of needn’t, a certain confusion arises when translating into Russian. This verb also means "no need", but its original meaning is much softer. So, when needn’t slips in a speech, it means that there is no need to do something, that this is not necessary. When translated into Russian, phrases with needn’t and don’t have to will sound almost the same. In order to make an adequate translation into English, pay attention to that. what meaning in the original language was embedded in the phrase. In other words, look into the context and make a contextual translation.
The grammatical features of the modal verb have to
The uniqueness of have to lies in the fact that, firstly, a bit to comes after it, although it will be written in any English grammar textbook that after modal ones the so-called bare infinitive is used, that is, an infinitive without a to particle. Compare:
- I can do it, but you have to help us while he must check everything. “I can do it, but you have to help us, and he has to check everything.”
In this sentence, three model verbs are collected at once, but only have to has a bit of infinitive after it.
The next peculiarity of the verb is that, unlike most, it requires the use of an auxiliary verb of the corresponding time. For example:
- I don’t have to tell you about it, it is against the rules of the game, you know - I must not tell you this, it is against the rules of the game, and you know it.
- Do you have to stay here all the time? Why don’t you come and walk a bit? “You have to be here all the time?” Why don't you go out and take a little walk?
- He is so rich that he doesn't have to earn money working hard and he doesn't know what it means to make the ends meet - He is so rich that he doesn’t need to earn money with hard work and he doesn’t know what it means to make ends meet.
Fake Verb
Have to can be a real problem for people starting to learn a language. It's all about matching the have to analogs in Present and Past Perfect. But it is difficult only at first glance. Let's dwell on this in more detail.
The main reason for the confusion is in the verb have. It can be both semantic and auxiliary. Therefore, when the same verb occurs in the function of the modal, people are lost. In order to determine the function of a verb in each case, you will need first of all a thorough knowledge of grammar. So the difference between modal, auxiliary and functional will be obvious. For example:
- I have a lot to tell you, let’s sit and talk. “I have a lot to tell you, let's sit down and talk.”
- I have to tell you a lot. Let’s sit and talk. “I have to tell you a lot.” Let's sit down and talk.
- I have told you a lot. Let’s discuss it. “I told you a lot.” Let's discuss it.
Each of the sentences has the verb have. In the first, it is a simple functional verb "to have." In this case, it is understood that the speaker has certain information. After have, there is a noun and the article immediately follows. This is the main clue. After functional verbs is always a noun or pronoun.
In the second case, after have comes a particle to, and then another verb tell. The conjunction verb + verb indicates that in this case have to carries a semantic connotation of modality and translates “must”.
Finally, in the third sentence, after have comes the third form of the verb to tell - told. This is a hint that we have before us in the function of the auxiliary verb for Present Perfect tense.
Thus, despite the fact that the verb to have occurs in a wide variety of ways, it is not difficult to determine its function in each case. The main thing is to know the basic rules for connecting words in a sentence. English is an analytical language, so the word order in it is fixed. This makes the task easier for all language learners.
Modal verb have to (sometimes called a modal construction) is used to express duty or necessity (in the affirmative or interrogative form) or the absence of duty and necessity (in negative form). Also verb have to can express confidence, certainty, probability.
Have to is synonymous with modal verb must , and has a touch of compulsion, due to any circumstances.
For example:
This answer has to be correct.
This answer, should be, correct. ( Expresses confidence, certainty.)
They had to leave early.
Them had to leave early. ( Expresses duty, compulsion due to circumstances.)
The soup has to be sought continuously to prevent burning.
From time to time soup necessary stir so that it does not burn. ( Expresses a need.)
Use of the modal verb have to in the present, past and future tenses
In most cases, the use of modal verbs in the past and future tenses is different from other verbs. The table below shows use of modal verb have to in different situations.
| Using | Affirmative forms 1. The present 2. Past 3. The future |
Negative forms 1. The present 2. Past 3. The future |
Synonyms |
| have to in the meaning of confidence, certainty |
1. That has to be Jerry. They said he was tall with bright red hair. It, should beJerry. We were told that he was tall and had bright red hair. 2. That has to have been the right restaurant. There were no other restaurants on the street. 3. |
1. Changes to " must" That must not be Jerry. They said he has blond hair, not red hair. Unlikely this is jerry. We were told that he had blond, not red hair. 2. Changes to " must" 3. The form of the future tense does not exist. |
must, have got to |
| have to in the sense of necessity |
1. She has to read four books for this literature class. Her necessary read four books for this literature lesson. 2. She had to finish the first book before the midterm. 3. She will have to finish the other books before the final exam. |
1. She doesn’t have to read "Grapes of Wrath." It "s optional reading for extra credit. Her not necessary read “Bunches of Wrath”. This work is for additional evaluation. 2. She didn "t have to write a critique of "The Scarlet Letter." She had to give a presentation to her class. 3. She won "t have to take any other literature classes. American Literature is the only required course. |
must |
Remember:
Design do not have to
means no need, but no prohibition, while the design must not
means a categorical prohibition.
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The system of English verbs is significantly different from Russian. Often you can hear: “English is so complicated! And modal verbs are something from the realm of fantasy. ” In fact, there is nothing complicated in them: you need to carefully look at them.
In this article we will deal with one such verb - “have to”.
Temporal forms of the verb have to
The have to modal verb can be used in the present, past and future tenses. The table shows in detail the formation of different forms of the verb.
Present Simple
Examples of the use of the have to modal verb in Past Simple
Alan had to wait for a long time. Alan had to wait a long time. Our class didn "t have to plant trees. Our class did not need to plant trees. Did you have to wear uniform at school? Did you have to wear a uniform at school?
Examples of using the have to modal verb in Future Simple
They will have to prepare a project. They prepare a project. My brother won "t have to walk the dog. My brother won't have to walk the dog. Will Ann and John have to take maths exam? Will Anna and John have to take a math exam?
Examples of the use of the have to modal verb to express necessity
They have to wear uniform. (The school has such a rule) They must wear uniforms. (There is a school rule) Peter had to read two books a week. (To prepare for the exam) Peter had to read two books a week. (To prepare for the exam) I’ll have to water my mother’s flowers during two weeks. (My mother won’t be at home, so I will do it instead of her) I will have to water my mother’s flowers for two weeks. (She will not be at home, and I will do it instead of her)
Examples of using the modal verb have to express confidence
It has to be Michael’s car. I saw photos of his car. This is probably Michael's car. I saw photos of his car. That has to have been Sara. They said she was slim and tall. Most likely it was Sarah. They said she was slim and tall.
negative form
Examples of the use of the negative form of the modal verb have to
You don’t have to read that book. You don't have to read that book. John doesn’t have to take chemistry exam. John did not need to take a chemistry exam. They won’t have to pay for dinner. They do not have to pay for lunch.
Important!
if a sentence uses a negative adverb or pronoun, such as never, then the particle not is not used. With one verb there can be only one negation:
Allan never has to think about job. Alan never has to think about work.