Modal Verb Have to - A2 Grammar Rules and Exercises

Exercises

Explanation

Use “have to”:

Present (Now)

Use have to or has to to talk about what is necessary now.

Example:
I have to go to work at 8 o’clock.
She has to wear a uniform at school.
We have to finish this project today.
They have to take the bus to school.

Past (Before Now)

Use had to to talk about something necessary in the past.

Example:
I had to get up early yesterday.
We had to clean the house before the guests came.
He had to visit the doctor last week.

Future (Later)

Use will have to to talk about something that will be necessary in the future.

Example:
I will have to study hard for the exam.
You will have to call me tomorrow.
They will have to leave early to catch the train.

Negative (Not Necessary)

Use don’t/doesn’t have to or didn’t have to to say that something is not necessary.

Example:
You don’t have to come if you’re busy.
He doesn’t have to wear a tie at work.
We didn’t have to cook dinner — we ordered pizza.

Questions

Use Do/Does/Did/Will + subject + have to + verb?

Example:
Do you have to work on weekends?
Does she have to pay for the ticket?
Did they have to walk home last night?
Will I have to wait long?

Form Summary

Time	Form	Example
Present	have to / has to	He has to study English.
Past	had to	We had to leave early.
Future	will have to	I will have to get up at 6 a.m.
Negative	don’t/doesn’t/didn’t have to	You don’t have to hurry.
Question	Do/Does/Did/Will + have to	Do we have to pay now?

Tip

Have to = rule or situation (outside control)
I have to wear a helmet at work.
Must = personal feeling or strong opinion
I must call my friend tonight.