Must, Have To and Don’t Have To
I can separate obligation, lack of obligation and prohibition.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Try the activities, then check your answers.
Choose a short recording.
Start with the contrast
At a makers’ workshop, visitors have to wear safety glasses. They mustn’t touch a moving machine. They don’t have to bring tools because the workshop provides them. These three messages are not interchangeable.
Read the situation transcript
At a makers’ workshop, visitors have to wear safety glasses. They mustn’t touch a moving machine. They don’t have to bring tools because the workshop provides them. These three messages are not interchangeable.
Which rule leaves an action optional rather than banning it?
Compare your idea
Don’t have to bring tools means bringing tools is not required.
How it works
Must and have to can both express obligation. Their use depends on context; it is not a rigid internal-versus-external division. With he or she, have to becomes has to.
The negative meanings are very different. Mustn’t means prohibited. Don’t have to means not necessary; it does not by itself forbid the action. Read the intended rule before choosing.
Obligation: must / have to. Prohibition: mustn’t. No obligation: don’t/doesn’t have to.
Notice this
You must wear safety glasses.
This states an obligation.
Compare this
She has to sign in.
Have changes to has with she.
Hear the examples
You must wear safety glasses.
This states an obligation.
She has to sign in.
Have changes to has with she.
You mustn’t touch the machine.
This prohibits an action.
You don’t have to bring tools.
Bringing tools is not required.
One mistake worth avoiding
Instead of: You mustn’t bring tools; they’re optional.
Say: You don’t have to bring tools; they’re optional.
Optional means no obligation, not prohibition.
You say
Hear the prompt, answer aloud, then deliberately reveal or hear one possible model. Check it and retry with a changed detail.
Your turn 1
State one fictional workshop requirement.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
Visitors have to sign in.
Check yourself: Use an obligation form.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 2
State something that is optional.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
You don’t have to bring a notebook.
Check yourself: Do not use mustn’t for optional.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Your turn 3
State a clear prohibition.
Compare a possible model
Reveal the model text
You mustn’t touch the wet paint.
Check yourself: Make the prohibited action explicit.
Retry with one detail of your own. Other wording is welcome when it meets this check.
Two guided self-checks
Say or write your answer before opening a model.
Self-check 1
Complete for one person: She ___ to wear a badge.
Compare a model and explanation
She has to wear a badge.
Use has to with she.
Self-check 2
Change required to optional: You have to book.
Compare a model and explanation
You don’t have to book.
This removes the obligation rather than banning booking.
Check your understanding
Choose one answer to each question, then check your answers. One of the ten questions is listening.
Automatic scoring needs JavaScript. Use the answer key after attempting all ten questions.
Answer key with explanations
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Every visitor is required to sign in. Visitors ___ sign in.
have to: Have to states the requirement.
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Touching the moving machine is prohibited. You ___ touch it.
mustn’t: Mustn’t gives a prohibition.
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Bringing tools is optional. You ___ bring tools.
don’t have to: Don’t have to means there is no requirement.
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She ___ to wear a visitor badge.
has: The form with she is has to.
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Which sentence allows a choice about bringing lunch, with no other rule stated?
You don’t have to bring lunch.: No obligation is different from either a ban or a requirement.
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Correct “He musts wear glasses.”
He must wear glasses.: Must does not add -s and takes a base verb.
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Are must and have to always separated by a strict personal/external rule?
No: Their uses overlap; the most important contrast here is the negative meaning.
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Is bringing a notebook required?
No: Don’t have to means it is not necessary; it does not ban it.
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Choose the correct question with have to.
Do we have to book?: Ordinary have to forms this question with do plus have.
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What changes most between mustn’t and don’t have to?
Prohibition versus no obligation: Confusing these negatives changes the practical instruction.
Take it with you
I can separate obligation, lack of obligation and prohibition.