ESL BLUE(s) | Troubleshooting must / have to |
Here are some of the most common errors using must, have to , preceded by their correct form:
Correct Form | Common Errors | ||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
You must get up early on the weekend. You have to get up early on the weekend. | You must | ||||||||||||
Must, like other modal verbs (may, should, can, etc), is followed by the verb alone (without 'to'). Compare:
You have to / must get up early during the week. | (= It's an obligation.) You don't have to get up early on the weekend. (= It's not an obligation.) You must get up early during the week but you |
Must and have to can both express the idea of obligation but they don't have the same meaning in the negative. | You mustn't do that means Don't do that.
You had to get up early last Sunday.
| You |
The past tense of both have to and must (obligation) is had to
|
You will have to get up early next Sunday too. |
You will |
Use have to, not must after 'will,' 'may,' 'should' etc.
| |