Level Five
Lesson 52
have to
Use “have to” when talking about obligations and responsibilities. It’s similar to the modal verb “must.”
- I have to go to work. (I must go to work.)
- You have to go to school.
- Frank has to find a new apartment. (He must find an apartment.)
- We have to clean up this mess we made.
- The company has to provide better working conditions for its employees.
52a. have to = must
A person who has to do something, has some sort of responsibility.
singular
I have to _____
You have to _____
He has to _____
She has to _____
It has to _____
plural
We have to _____
You have to _____
They have to _____
Pay attention to the change in “have” in the third person, singular.
- I have to work today.
- I have to be there by 6:00.
- I have to do many things while I’m at work.
- He has to work today.
- He has to be there before 3:00.
- He has to do many things while he’s at work.
52b. have to - negative
To form the negative, use a helping verb and “not.” Below you can see how to put “have to” in the present tense.
singular
I don’t have to _____
You don’t have to _____
He doesn’t have to _____
She doesn’t have to _____
It doesn’t have to _____
plural
We don’t have to _____
You don’t have to _____
They don’t have to _____
Pay attention to the change in “have” in the third person, singular.
- She doesn’t have to go to work today. It’s Sunday.
- She doesn’t have to do anything today because it’s her day off.
- We don’t have to send letters through the mail anymore because we can use email.
52c. have to - questions
To make a question, put the helping verb before the subject.
singular
Do I have to _____?
Do you have to _____?
Does he have to _____?
Does she have to _____?
Does it have to _____?
plural
Do we have to _____?
Do you have to _____?
Do they have to _____?
Remember to use the helping verb “do” when forming the question in the present tense. The phrasal modal verb “have to” comes before the main verb.
- Do you have to learn English?
- Why do you have to learn English?
The main verb in this question is “learn.”
- Does she have to stay in the hospital?
- How long does she have to be there?
52d. have to - information questions
To ask a question about a person’s responsibilities, use a question word before “do.”
singular
What do I have to _____?
What do you have to _____?
What doe he have to _____?
What does she have to _____?
What does it have to _____?
plural
What do we have to _____?
What do you have to _____?
Wha do they have to _____?
Other questions words include why, when, where, how, how many, how much, who, etc.
What do you have to do today?
