Lesson

I have to

Expressing obligation

≈ 15 min 8 block(s)

Text

What does "I have to" mean?

"I have to" expresses obligation or necessity. It indicates that something is required—often because of rules, schedules, instructions, or external circumstances.

  • "I have to" + base verb = present obligation (I have to send the invoice).
  • Use do-support for negatives and questions in present simple (I don't have to; Do you have to?).
  • Past obligation uses "had to" (I had to attend the meeting yesterday).
  • Compare with "must": "have to" often refers to external requirements, while "must" often expresses the speaker's strong opinion.

Table

"Have to" - Forms and Examples

Form Structure Example
Present affirmative Subject + have to + base verb I have to finish the report by 5 PM.
Present negative Subject + do/does + not + have to + base verb She doesn't have to work tomorrow.
Present question Do/Does + subject + have to + base verb? Do you have to attend the meeting?
Past Subject + had to + base verb We had to postpone the presentation yesterday.
Perfect Subject + have/has had to + base verb I've had to make several changes since the review.
Informal/colloquial "Have got to" / "gotta" I've got to call the client (informal: I gotta call the client).

Tip

Key rule: Structure and placement

Remember the basic structure:

  • Affirmative: I have to + base verb → I have to review the contract.
  • Negative: I do not (don't) have to + base verb → I don't have to come early.
  • Question: Do/Does + subject + have to + base verb? → Do you have to submit it today?
  • Past: Subject + had to + base verb → He had to travel for the audit.

Use 'do/does' for negatives and questions in present simple; use 'had to' for past obligations.

Example

Examples in context

I have to finish the financial report before the meeting.

Do you have to work this weekend?

She had to travel to Madrid for the client visit.

We don't have to attend the training if we already completed it online.

Tip

Common mistakes

Watch out for these universal errors learners make with "have to":

  • Adding an extra "to": Incorrect: I have to to submit the form. Correct: I have to submit the form.
  • Forgetting do-support in negatives/questions: Incorrect: You have to come? Correct: Do you have to come?
  • Confusing lack of obligation and prohibition: "I don't have to" (no obligation) ≠ "You must not" (prohibition).
  • Using "have to" with wrong tense forms: Incorrect: I have to yesterday. Correct: I had to yesterday.

Focus on structure (have to + base verb), correct auxiliary use, and tense consistency.

Quiz

Choose the correct sentence:

Hint: Remember the structure: have to + base verb.

Quiz

Complete: Do you _____ work late tonight?

Hint: Think about question word order with 'do' and the structure for obligation.

Quiz

Choose the sentence that means there is no obligation:

Hint: Compare expressions for 'no obligation' and for 'prohibition'.

Key Points

GrammarPoint

have to

modal-like verb phrase CEFR B1 //hæv tuː//

Expresses obligation or necessity imposed by external circumstances.

I have to submit the invoice by Friday.

GrammarPoint

had to

verb phrase (past) CEFR B1 //hæd tuː//

Past form of 'have to' used to say that something was necessary in the past.

She had to cancel the visit due to a delay.

Expression

don't have to

verb phrase (negative) CEFR B1 //doʊnt hæv tuː//

Indicates absence of obligation; something is not necessary.

You don't have to attend if you are busy.

Vocabulary

must

modal verb CEFR B2 //mʌst//

Expresses strong obligation or necessity, often from the speaker's view.

You must confirm your attendance by Monday.

Expression

have got to / gotta

expression CEFR B2 //hæv ɡɒt tuː/ /ˈɡɒtə//

Colloquial alternatives to 'have to' indicating obligation; 'gonna'/'gotta' are informal.

I've got to speak with the manager before noon.