"Should": what is the difference between should, must and have to? Have to Modal Construction Use of have to in English.
In English there is such a concept as may, must, should or be able to. Three of them are translated into Russian with the same word - “must”. They are precisely one of the most common confusions among Russian-speaking people. But what then is the difference between should, if their meanings are approximately similar?
In fact, they are not very similar. They all translate as "should" but have different emotional meanings. Let's try to figure this out, what is the difference between should, must and have to.
Should
This modal verb is used when we give someone friendly advice or some kind of gentle recommendations. This can also be translated into Russian as “should”. When it's cold outside, we say to a close friend: "You should put on a jacket!" But at the same time, a friend can either listen to advice, or do as he wants. That is, should does not imply any mandatory action.
- I think, Mary should find a job. - I think Mary should find a job.
- Jonh should listen to his parents more often. John should listen to his parents more often.
- You should be kinder to your children! They are so nice! - You should (you should) be kinder to your children. They are so cute!
In some cases should can take on a cruder form, depending on the context in which it is used:
- You should do what I ask! - You should (you should) do what I ask!
Using this modal verb, you can also ask for the same friendly advice or recommendation:
- Should I buy that red dress? Should I buy that red dress?
Must
What is the difference between should and must? The difference between should and must is that the second modal verb can strictly explain some obligatory action that someone is OBLIGED and MUST do. Often must is some kind of moral duty, for example, the duty to defend one's country or obey the law. That is, this modal verb is used when you talk about some of your own beliefs or generally accepted rules and laws.
- Every man must think about the environment. - Every person must think about the environment.
- I am a soldier, and soldiers must follow instructions. - I am a soldier, and soldiers must follow instructions.
- You must be stronger and forget about him! - You must be stronger and forget about him!
In negative sentences it acts as some kind of sharp, categorical prohibition to do something. Usually translated as "not allowed".
- You must not lie to me! - You can't lie to me!
- You are too weak, you must not smoke! - You are too weak, you cannot smoke!
- Alice musn't be here, and you know that. - Alice cannot be here, and you know it.
Must is usually not used in the interrogative form and does not change tenses, for this there is the following word - have to.
Have to
This word is not a modal verb like the previous two, but is also translated into Russian as “must”. It is used when talking about some forced action: “I had to,” “I was forced.” Have to can also be translated as “to be forced”, “required”, “have to”.
Let's give simple examples in Russian.
If a person has poor eyesight, he has to wear glasses to see normally. Mary wanted to go out with her friends, but she had to stay at home because she had to look after her younger brother. Alex and Jessica quickly said goodbye because Alex had to leave town at five.
In all these cases, the English version uses have to.
- She has a myopia. That's why she has to wear glasses. - She has myopia. That's why she wears (she has to wear) glasses.
- Sorry, Jessica, I have to go now. My bus leaves the city at five o'clock. - Sorry, Jessica, I have to (I have to) go now. The bus leaves the city at five o'clock.
Unlike must in negative sentences, it means that there is no need to do something or that some action is not obligatory. Whereas must certainly means a categorical prohibition to do something.
- You don"t have to help us with all this stuff. - You don’t have to (there’s no need) to help us with all this.
- You didn't have to make a decision by yourself, so it's Ok, Lucy. “You didn’t have to decide everything yourself, so it’s okay, Lucy.”
Have to is used in interrogative sentences with auxiliary verbs to ask about the need to do something. Often translated into Russian with the word “need” or “necessary”.
- Do I really have to learn history? - Do I really need to learn history?
- Will I have to go shopping? - Do I need to go shopping?
Have to as an analogue of must
Depending on the time, have to can change and replace must in the past and future tenses.
- Mary had been invited to the party, but she had to look after her younger brother. - Mary was invited to the party, but she had (she had to) look after her younger brother.
- Actually, you had to turn right. - Actually, you should have (you should have) turned right.
- Mike, you will have to do all housework, make meal, feed the cat and call us every day after your classes while we are not home. - Mike, you will have (you will have to) do all the housework, cook the food, feed the cat and call us every day after class while we are not home.
Since must is not used in the past or future, have to can replace it to show an obligation in the past or future, as shown in the previous sentences. Also used in interrogative sentences instead of must:
- Do I have to follow all these rules? - Do I have to follow all these rules?
Ought to and should: what's the difference?
We have already discussed the difference between should, must and have to, but there is another modal verb that is similar in meaning to the verb should, but is much less common. They are very often confused; all of them, one might say, are almost similar. But there is still a slight difference in their use.
In many cases, they can replace each other, since both indicate advice or recommendation. However, should is used much more often in interrogative sentences and any formal or more polite advice. And ought to is more of an expression of an obligation based on some personal beliefs, a sharper remark to do something right.
- Alice ought to ask her parents before making such decisions! - Alice should (it would have been more correct) to ask her parents before making such decisions.
- Your ought to be more understanding to his problem. -You should be more understanding of his problems.
The verb ought is not used in the future tense, and most often the tense is clear from the context. It also doesn't change based on faces.
- You ought to go with us tomorrow. - You should come with us tomorrow.
We can say that outgh to is the brother of the modal verb should, but with some shade of obligation. Although in any situation where ought to can be used, should can also be used.
In the article, we looked at the difference between should, must and have to and gave examples to better understand their meanings.
In English, the importance of modal verbs is difficult to overestimate. In order to use them correctly, you need to remember a few simple rules.
So, I dedicate this article to the modal verbs have to, need to, should and ought to.
Modal verb have/has to.
Have/has to– “must/should.” “have to” is most often used in spoken English. Used at all times. With the pronouns “I, you, we, they” you must use “have”, and with “he, she, it” you must use “has”. This rule also applies to the following modal verb.
I have to feed my dog in an hour.
(I have to feed my dog in an hour)
She has to look after my kids during these two hours.
(She must look after my children during these two hours)
Have/has got to– “must/should.” In fact, there is no difference in meaning between "have got to" and "have to". But there is one peculiarity. “Have got to” is used only in the affirmative form in the present tense. If you forget this rule and use it, for example, in an interrogative sentence, it will be a grave mistake.
We have got to rest after this hard work.
(We should rest after this hard work)
Modal verb must.
Must– “must/should.” The thing about "must" is that it is a very formal verb. In everyday speech it is not used, but "have (got) to". That is, the word is suitable for official communications, for the speech of politicians, in official documentation, etc. And yet, “must” is used only in the present tense, but unlike “have got to”, it can be used in both negative and interrogative sentences.
The whole world must do something to prevent global warming.
(The whole world must do something to prevent global warming)
Modal verb need to.
Need to– “need”, unlike the previous modal verbs, “need to” is a less “categorical” option. That is, you don’t have to, you don’t have to do something, you just need to do it.
Our company needs to hire some new employees.
(Our company needs to hire new employees)
Modal verb should.
Should– “should/must have, should.” "Should" expresses:
1. Expressing an opinion;
I thing you should visit George before his departure.
(I think you should visit George before he leaves)
2. Expression of expectation;
His train should arrive soon.
(His train should arrive soon)
3. Regret about the past.
I should have guessed that he cheated on me.
(I should have known he was cheating on me)
P.S. In the future tense, you cannot use “will” together with “should”, but the correct word would be “should be able to”.
We should be able to achieve our goal.
(We must be able to achieve our goal)
Ought to– “should/must have, should.” “Ought to” and “should” are the same thing, it’s just that “ought to” is the official version of “should.”
Our manager ought to change his job.
(Our manager should change his job)
Now you know all the modal verbs in English. Have fun studying with us!
Hello dear readers. I propose to talk about debts today. No, don’t rush to click on the cross, I’m talking about it in general, about .
What is your attitude to the word “should”? As children, we were so tormented by the words “you must” or “you can’t”, which I think is not positive for everyone. Even at all kinds of trainings, speakers are advised to avoid words such as “must”, “must”, so as not to evoke negative emotions in listeners and the feeling that they will have to do something against their will.
But it must be said that this word can express different meanings: I need it, it is important, I strongly recommend it, I feel a moral duty, etc.. How are these meanings conveyed in English?
Let's look at the difference between a modal verb must from have to.
Try to guess the difference between them using examples:
I have to work. - I have to, I have to work.
The air is polluted in Beijing. I must wear a mask. - The air is polluted in Beijing. I have to wear a mask.
How do these verbs differ from each other?
The main difference is that the modal verb must is of a personal nature (internal obligation, duty). Simply put, the translation of the word “must” sounds like “must, obliged.”
Have to in English it more often means an obligation due to external reasons, used in situations where someone has established these conditions for us.
However, this difference is not so significant in affirmative sentences. What cannot be said about denial:
I don’t have to buy souvenirs. - We are not obliged (we do not have to) buy souvenirs.
We mustn't park here. - We can't park here.
That is, a modal verb have to when negated in English, it simply means the absence of necessity (I am not obliged, I don’t have to do something, no one forces me), while the negative with the verb must means a prohibition (it’s impossible, it’s forbidden to do something).
Let's look at these verbs in more detail.
Have to
Verb have to is used much more often than must, and denotes the need to do something, moreover, due to external circumstances.
This verb is grammatically weak. It behaves like a regular verb in English, changes in tense, changes form, requires negatives and questions when forming.
That is, you cannot say I haven’t to do - I have to do. You can't say Have you to do? - Do you have to do?
| Statement (+) | Negation (-) | Question (?) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| The present | I/you/we/they have to go. He/she has to go. | I/you/we/they don't have to go. He/she doesn't have to go. | Do I/you/we/they have to go? Does he/she have to go? |
| Past | We had to go. | We didn't have to go. | Did you have to go? |
| Future | I'll (will) have to go. | I won't (will not) have to go. | Will you have to go? |
Sometimes in colloquial speech you can find this form:
I' we got to+ V = I have to+ V
I have to go = I' we got to go.
Surely in American films you have heard more than once: I gotta go. This is a shortened colloquial version of I’ ve got to go, and it means the same thing - “I must go.”
Must
Unlike the previous verb, must is grammatically strong, that is, it does not require auxiliary verbs to form negations and questions, and it does not change its form.
In negative sentences we simply add the particle not- must not (mustn’t). Pay attention to the pronunciation - [ʹmʌs(ə)nt]
| Statement (+) | Negation (-) | Question (?) |
|---|---|---|
| I must report. | You mustn't smoke here. | Must I do it now? |
Must does not have a past tense form, so it uses the equivalent of have to, that is, in the past - had to.
That is, for example, the sentence “ I must do it" - "I have to do this" in the past will sound like " I had to do it" - "I had to do it", and in the future " I’ ll have to do it- "I'll have to do it."
There is also a form with the past participle to express the past tense, but this is only in the sense of a logical conclusion, a guess (paragraph 4). For example, He must have seen it. - He must have seen it.
Let's take a closer look at the meaning of this verb:
- Obligation (rather internal), necessity, duty
I must tell her everything. - I have to tell her everything.
- Written instructions
You must return books on time. - You must return the books on time.
You mustn't park your car here. - Parking is not allowed here.
- Strong recommendation (stronger than )
You must read this book! - You just have to read this book!
- The conclusion must be
You must be tired. - You must be tired (that is, now tired).
He must have known it. - You must have known this (that is, you knew it in the past).
If you must - expresses agreement to something, but reluctantly.
Do you mind if I smoke here? - If you must... - Do you mind if I smoke? - Well, if that’s what you need... (but I agree reluctantly).
Must-see, must-know, must-have, etc.
It’s one of the world’s must-see cities. - This is one of those cities in the world that everyone should see.
Summary
The main differences between must and have to in the table
| Must | Have to |
|---|---|
| Strong (auxiliary do/does/did are NOT required for questions and negatives) | Weak (requires auxiliary do/does/did for questions and negatives) |
| Personal commitment (In positive sentences the meaning is similar) | External circumstances (In positive sentences, the meaning is similar, in colloquial speech it is used more often) |
| Doesn't change over time. | It changes according to tenses and has the form of a gerund. |
| It is NOT followed by the particle “to” (I must to go). | It is followed by the particle “to” (I have to go). |
| In negation it means “impossible” | In negation it means “not necessary, not necessary” |
| It has additional meanings of inference (he must have left - he must have already left), a strong recommendation. |
Well, I fulfilled my moral duty with pleasure - I shared with you a piece of my knowledge. Enjoy your language learning, study not only because you “must”, but also because you want to!
But remember that it is not enough to read the text, you also need to remember it. And for this, exercises are the best fit. Therefore, I strongly recommend that you take the test and make sure that you remember exactly how the modal verb must differs from have to.
Test
The test is in development
Best wishes, your Polina 4lang.
P.S. You can find other exercises (tests) on the “” page.
P.P.S. Don't forget to watch our video lesson about verbs, incl. and about modal
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Modal verb must is used mainly to express obligation, but in colloquial speech it is often replaced by turnover have to. In this article, we will look at the meanings of the verb must, examples of use, differences from have to, should, be supposed to.
Table: modal verb Must in affirmative, negative and interrogative form
You must obey. - You must obey (order).
You must do your duty. - You must fulfill one's duty (obligation, order).
You must read more. - You must read more (strong advice).
Verb must can refer not only to the present, but also to the future tense:
We must finish our work tomorrow. - We must finish our work tomorrow.
He must return in an hour. - He must be back in an hour.
Other means can be used to express obligation and advice; read more about this below.
2. A categorical ban
Modal verb must in the negative form denotes a categorical prohibition, and not “should not”.
You must not smoke in this area. – Prohibited smoke in this area.
You mustn't break item in a store. – It is forbidden break goods in a store.
Milder forms of prohibition are can't(especially popular in colloquial speech) and may not:
You can't just leave without paying for your meal. - You you can not just leave without paying for the dish (this is prohibited).
You may not take these tools. - To you it is forbidden take these tools (this is prohibited).
3. Guess
By using must expresses a confident assumption that the speaker considers plausible. The premise can refer to the present or past tense. Note that for an uncertain assumption that the speaker does not consider plausible, use .
3.1 Assumption relevant to the present time
He must see us from there. - He, there must be, sees us from there.
Sandy must remember my address. – Sandy there must be, remembers my address.
The phrase with the verb is especially often used:
You must be John. - You, there must be, John.
He must be busy now. - Now he, there must be, busy.
If it is assumed that the action is performed at the moment of speech, a verb with the ending is used -ing:
Where is he? – No must be swimming in the pool. - Where is he? - He, must be floating in the pool (now).
3.2 Assumption relating to the past tense
Where is my phone? I must have forgotten it at home. - Where is my phone? I, I must have forgotten his home.
She must have been very dissapointed. - She, there must be, Very disappointed.
Note: How do you express a future tense proposition?
Verb must not used to express an assumption about the future. You can use other means for this, for example: probably, perhaps- probably, to be likely to(to be possible, probable).
January, there must be, it will be cold. – January will probably be cold/January is likely to be cold / Perhaps January will be cold.
She, there must be, will forgive her husband. – She will probably forgive her husband / She is likely to forgive her husband / Perhaps, she will forgive her husband.
Also note that the assumption with must cannot be constructed in negative form. Other words are used for this too.
He, there must be, not speak English. – No probably doesn't speak English.
Modal verb Must and phrase Have to
Synonym of verb must is the turnover have to- to be due. Unlike must, it can be used at any time. In a negative form, it expresses not a prohibition, but a lack of necessity (“must not”). There is a rather subtle semantic difference between them.
Must used as a “strong” ought, expressing an obligation or need to do something that you really consider necessary, something that is personally relevant to you, and also something that is extremely important.
I must pass the exam. - I must pass the exam (this is my obligation).
Have to can express a “soft” obligation: the need to do something, often forced, sometimes not so important.
We have to hurry. - Us need to hurry up (We must hurry up).
You don't have to tip a bartender here. - Here you are is not obliged to tip the bartender (shouldn't).
He didn't have to help me. - He didn't have to help me.
I will have to wait. - To me have to wait.
However, in colloquial speech have to often used in the same sense as must.
I have to pass the exam. - I must pass the exam.
This sentence can be understood in two ways: 1) I must pass the exam because I am forced, obliged, 2) I must pass the exam because it is my personal moral duty (as with the verb must).
Let's try to compare two sentences with must And have to to better understand the difference. The company went on a hike, and in the process it turned out that Tim had difficulty carrying his things. We have to help him.
We must helpTim. - We must help Tim.
In this case, Tim is our friend, we cannot leave him, he needs, definitely needs help. So what if he took more things than he could carry? We will help him. If he were us, Tim would have done the same.
We have to helpTim. - We must help Tim.
Some Tim took more junk than he could handle. Because of him, everyone has to walk slower, he constantly asks to wait. We'll have to help him, but next time we won't take him with us.
This is a very rough example, because the option with have to may be suitable for the first case with Tim the friend. Much depends on the context, the specific case, and even the intonation with which you say the phrase.
In general, in colloquial speech they use much more often have to, when you need to say something like “I must”, “I have to”, “I have to”, etc.
Difference between Must, Have to, Should, Be Supposed to
The difference between must And have to we've already sorted it out. Let's see how the modal verb differs from them should and turnover be supposed to. The main difference is that they do not express obligation, although they can be translated into Russian with the words “need” or “must”.
Should– this is used (in particular) to express advice, wishes, recommendations. That is, not “you should”, but “you should”:
You should try this cake, it's delicious. - You should(you should / you should / you should) try this cake, it's delicious.
We shouldn't leave the door open. It's cold out there. - Us not worth it(should not) leave the door open. It's cold outside.
Turnover expressions be supposed to are often translated with the word “must”, but this is not “should” in the sense of “obliged, forced”, but “must” in the sense of “ in theory should" or "it is implied that". The difference is huge.
I saw you outside smoking, but you were supposed to be working. - I saw you smoking on the street, then you (in theory) should work (but did not work).
This is supposed to be the best day in my life, but I’m not feeling happy. - This should be (in theory) best day of my life, but I don't feel happy.
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