I must write this email.
I have to write this email.
Both these sentences tell us that
something needs to be done.
They express an obligation.
But do you think both of
these sentences mean the same thing?
The first sentence uses must and the second one
uses have to to say that something is necessary
to be done, that is, writing an email.
Now, most people get confused while
using must and have to.
And in today's English lesson we
will understand the difference between them.
I am sure by the end of this lesson you will
certainly know when to use must and have to correctly.
I am Lucy, your English teacher for today.
Let's get started.
As I mentioned earlier, both must and have
to are used to express an obligation, a
responsibility or a necessity to do something.
In most cases, you can interchange must with have
to in the present tense, but not always.
There is a slight difference
in their usage and meaning.
Let's understand that.
Let's look at the previous example
sentences I must write this email.
I have to write this email.
In the first sentence, the speaker has decided himself
and feels the necessity to write an email.
No one has asked him to do so
or forced him to write an email.
It's out of his own responsibility and willingness.
He has decided to write an email.
You can call it an internal obligation.
Whereas in the second sentence I
have to write an email.
Somebody has told someone to write an email.
Somebody has instructed someone to do something.
It's an external obligation.
It's a doobie toward someone.
So when someone has asked you to do something
and it's a necessity, we use have to.
And when you feel by yourself that something is
necessary to be done, we always use must.
The difference is subtle but confuses many people.
I hope you got the difference.
The second common use is to say something is compulsory, meaning
it's a rule or a law that you should follow.
In such cases, we mostly use have to and not must.
Here are some examples you have
to stop at the red light.
Now, that's a law or a
traffic rule set by the government.
If you don't follow it, you will be fined.
You have to wear a seatbelt when you drive.
Again, it's a rule and a
compulsion by the traffic department.
I have to pay my taxes before the end of the month.
It's another obligation set by the government.
In all of these sentences, it's a rule
or a law that you should follow.
In short, it's an external obligation.
It's best to use have to
in such sentences and not must.
Now, the third part of this lesson when
it comes to making sentences in the past,
present or the future, have to is versatile.
Meaning you can use half to
in the past, present and future.
On the other hand, we cannot use must.
For example, I have to go.
I had to go.
I will have to go.
Can I replace halfto with must?
Yes, you can say I must go, but you
cannot use must in the past and future.
Here are some more examples.
I have to hurry up.
I must hurry up.
I had to hurry up.
I will have to hurry up.
I have to wait for 2 hours.
I must wait for 2 hours.
I had to wait for 2 hours.
I will have to wait for 2 hours.
I hope with the help of
these sentences, it's clear to understand.
Now let's understand how to form negative sentences
and questions with half to and must.
I have to go to the party.
I don't have to go for the party.
Do I have to go to the party?
I must go to the party.
I must not go for the party.
Must I go to the party?
To form negative sentences with half
to, we use do plus not.
And for negative sentences with must, just add not.
After must.
To form questions with have to, we use do and to
form questions with must, we move the subject to follow must.
Here are some more example sentences.
What time do we have to leave?
We don't have to leave before two.
We mustn't leave before two.
Must we leave before two?
Do we have to leave before two?
No, we mustn't leave before two.
No, we don't have to leave before two.
Mustn't is the contracted form of must plus
not and mainly used while speaking English.
Here's a quick test to test
your understanding of this English lesson.
What will you use in the following sentences?
Must or have to?
Also, you need to use the correct
form of have with different subjects.
Let's solve the first one together.
Chi attend the meeting at 04:00 p.m..
The correct answer is has to.
She has to attend the meeting at 04:00 p.m..
It's an external obligation her
dooby towards the company.
Did you notice I used has?
The verb form will change with the subject,
so remember to use the correct verb form.
Write the answers to the
remaining question in the comments.
I would love to read your answers.
That's all for today.
I hope you understood the difference between must and have
to and how to use it correctly in sentences.
If you wish to learn something specific,
let me know in the comments.
I shall see you soon with one more doubt.
Solving English lesson.
Until then, keep learning.
Keep practicing English.
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