Understanding Must and Have To

Must and have to are modal verbs used to express obligation in English, but they have distinct uses and connotations.

Definition: Must expresses a strong personal or moral obligation, often used in the first person and only in the present tense.

Example: "I must study harder to pass the exam."

Definition: Have to indicates an external obligation or requirement, and can be used in various tenses.

Example: "Students have to wear uniforms at this school."

Vocabulary: Mustn't is the negative form of must, expressing prohibition.

Highlight: Mustn't does not take an 's' in the third person singular, unlike regular verbs.

The use of have to is more flexible:

• Future tense: "will have to"
• Past tense: "had to"
• Negative form: "don't have to" (indicating lack of necessity)

Quote: "MUST alla 1ª pers. è un OBBLIGO MORALE"

This quote emphasizes that must is often used for personal moral obligations, especially in the first person.

Highlight: The differenza tra mustn't e don't have to is crucial: mustn't indicates prohibition, while don't have to means it's not necessary.

Understanding these distinctions allows for more precise and effective communication in English, especially when expressing various levels of obligation, necessity, or advice.