English 24
12th July 2003
A little bit of GRAMMAR

Hi guys!!!
This week we continued our theme of must and have to, but this time we put them into the negative. Therefore you have to be careful not to confuse the rules. Last week we said that must or have to are quite often interchangeable, but not always. Although remember that you can only use must when talking about the present and the future, whereas you can use have to in the correct forms in the past, present or future. However, it is not possible to interchange mustn't and don't have to as they are completely different in meaning. Read the following rules carefully:

MUSTN'T: "you mustn't do something" means: "it is necessary that you do not do it":
§ You mustn't tell anyone about the break-in. (don't tell anyone about the break-in)
§ I said I would be at the cinema on time. I mustn't be late. (I must be on time)

DON'T HAVE TO: you don't have to do something means "it is not necessary that you do it; you don't need to do it":
§ I don't have to go to school today so I had a lie-in.
§ She didn't have to wear a uniform at her school, as uniforms were optional.

We also gave you a quick reminder that you can use have got to instead of have to… it means the same thing, but perhaps it's best to use it in speech, rather than formal letters, etc.
§ I've got to go to a wedding tomorrow
§ I have to go to a wedding tomorrow
§ We've got to leave our apartment next week, as our contract has expired.
§ We have to leave our apartment next week, as our contract has expired.

Practice Exercises

Exercise 1
Make negative sentences with have to
E.g. Did you have to change that skirt you bought yesterday?
No, I didn't have to change it, when I tried it on it fitted me perfectly.

1. Did you have to pay a lot for your tickets for the Vasco concert in Milan?
No, my friend bought us the tickets for a surprise present, so we ______.

2. Do you have to colour your hair to hide the grey?
No, I don't have any grey hairs so I _______.

3. Did you have to get up extra early this week because of the road works on the way into the city?
No, I've been on holiday this week so I _________

4. Does Sarah's father still work 50 hours a week down the coal mines?
No, he won a million pounds on the lottery so he _______.

Exercise 2

This time complete the following sentences with mustn't or don't/doesn't have to.
E.g. I don't want anyone to know that I'm pregnant yet, so you mustn't tell anyone
I don't have to stay in the office after 6pm, but I usually do.

1. I'm going to sunbathe on the beach tomorrow as I _____ go to work.
2. You ____ forget to take your medicines or you won't get better
3. My mum gets up early every morning even though she __________.
4. Are we ready to go?
Oh let's stay and have another coffee, we _______ leave yet, we've got plenty of time before the flight leaves!
5. Whatever you do, you _____ let George drive after he's had a drink. It's really dangerous and he might lose his licence.

Answers

Exercise 1
1. didn't have to; 2.don't have to; 3. didn't have to; 4. doesn't have to

Exercise 2
1. don't have to; 2. mustn't; 3. doesn't have to; 4. don't have to; 5. mustn't