What is the difference between have to and must

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. Below are seven questions to help you figure out when to use must vs. Plus, knowing how to use these two phrases naturally will make you sound more like a native speaker! While these questions are outstanding starting points, mastering must vs. And instead of writing down sentence after sentence and completing repetitive grammar exercises, why not practice these phrases and many more through entertainment?

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Who knew you could learn must-know grammar structures by watching fun English media? Must and have to both express obligation a need. However, it makes a difference whether that need is external or internal. Let me explain with some examples. If the obligation is external meaning someone else gave the command you should use have to.

This is an external obligation. In this example, the decision to eat vegetables is motivated by the external obligation given by dad. In both these examples, the need is motivated by outside pressure and consequences.

On the other hand, if the obligation is internal meaning the speaker made the decision you can use must. While Must can generally be replaced by Have to in the present tense, there is sometimes a slight difference in meaning or use. We generally use must when the speaker decides that something is necessary, or needs to be done.

In this case I have decided that I need to write a letter to John. Nobody else has told me to write it. I think it is necessary. Somebody else has told me to write it, somebody else told me it was necessary to do. Our boss makes us wear a uniform. It is an obligation that our boss has decided that is necessary.

I, the speaker, am not making this obligation, someone else is. Must I wear this tie? Am I obliged to wear this tie? What do you think? Do I have to wear this tie? Is there a rule about ties? I have to brush my teeth twice a day. Important: To express obligation, duty or necessity in the future or the past, must and need are not used.

They are replaced by have to :. We must need to buy another ticket. We had to buy another ticket yesterday.