Have to
Definition
Have to expresses obligation or necessity, often because of a rule, circumstance or external requirement. It changes form for tense and subject: have to, has to, had to and will have to.
subject + have to / has to / had to + base verb
Examples
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I have to renew my passport.
A present requirement makes the action necessary.
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Mina has to leave by six.
Has to agrees with a third-person singular subject.
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We had to cancel the trip.
Had to expresses past necessity.
Mustn't vs. don't have to
You must not enter this room.
Entering is not permitted.
You do not have to attend the meeting.
Attending is optional rather than forbidden.
Mustn't expresses prohibition. Don't have to means that an action is unnecessary.
Questions and negatives use do-support in simple tenses
In the present and past simple, questions and negatives normally use do, does or did. The lexical verb remains have after the auxiliary.
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Does Leo have to work tomorrow?
After does, use have, not has.
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We did not have to wait.
The past negative means waiting was unnecessary.
Common mistakes
She have to leave early.
She has to leave early.
Use has to with a third-person singular subject in the present.
He doesn't has to pay today.
He doesn't have to pay today.
After doesn't, use the base form have.
Quick check
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly expresses present necessity for she?
Use has to + base verb with she.Which sentence means that attendance is optional?
Do not have to expresses lack of necessity.Which past question is correct?
After did, use the base form have in have to.Nice work — you've completed the quick check.
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