Modal Verbs: Have to, Don’t Have to, Must, Must not
have to/has to - I’m working tomorrow morning, so I have to wake up early.
Must - My mother is calling me, I must go now.
don’t have to/doesn’t have to - It’s Sunday tomorrow, so I don’t have to wake up early.
must not - This is a hospital, you must not smoke here.
Note: “have to” and “must” have the same meaning, but “don’t have to” and “must not” are different.
“Don’t have to” means not necessary, “must not” means forbidden.
1. Complete the sentences below with the words in the box. Remember that “he”, “she”,
and “it” go with “has to” and “doesn’t have to.”
have to don’t have to has to doesn’t have to must not
a) My boss says I have to come to work on the weekend. I’m not very happy about it.
b) It’s a really important meeting, you must not be late!
c) I have a car, so I don’t have to catch the bus.
d) If he wants to pass his test, he has to study hard.
e) She already has two computers, she doesn’t have to buy another one.
2. Mark and Pamela are at a party. Read the conversation below and choose the correct
option.
Pamela: Mark, do you want some birthday cake? You must not/don’t have to try it if you
don’t want to, but it’s really delicious!
Mark: I’m sorry, I can’t. I have to/must not go home now.
Pamela: What? But it’s so early! Why do you have to/has to go home so early?
Mark: Because I don’t have to/must work tomorrow.
Pamela: But Mark, tomorrow is a public holiday. We must not/don’t have to work
tomorrow!
Mark: I know. But I work in a cafe and we are open tomorrow, so I have to/has to work.
Pamela: Oh that’s too bad. Is your boss working tomorrow too?
Mark: No, there will not be many customers tomorrow, so he doesn’t have to/must not.
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Modal Verbs of Obligation
3. Read the sentences below and make a follow-up sentence with the verb in brackets.
a) I am working tomorrow at 8am.
E.g ____I have to wake up at 6 am. __________________________________________(wake up)
b) Winter is coming and I don’t have a jacket.
I have to buy a jacket (buy)
c) Sarah’s house is dirty, and her friends are coming to her house for dinner tonight.
She has to clean her house (clean)
d) It’s Sunday tomorrow, so I don’t have classes.
I don’t have to go to school (go to school)
e) Mark is not hungry.
He doesn’t have to eat (eat)
f) This email is very important.
I must not delete it (delete)
g) I work from home.
I don’t have to drive to work (drive to work)
h) My girlfriend’s birthday is next week.
I must not forget (forget)
i) Sarah is very sick.
She hast to stay at home (stay at home)
4. Rewrite the sentences using modal verbs. More than one answer may be possible.
a) It’s very important that I call him back before Thursday.
Eg. I have to call him back before Thursday
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
b) It is not necessary for you to bring something to my party.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
c) It is very important for Margaret to take her medicine every day.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
d) This is a highway, you are not allowed to park here.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
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Modal Verbs of Obligation
e) It is very important that Michael gets home before 6pm
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
f) It is not necessary for us to take so many photos.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
g) Adrian is not allowed to eat tomatoes, he is allergic.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
h) It is very important that we book our tickets soon.
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
5. Make some sentences about what you have to do and don’t have to do next week.
E.g. “I have to call my friend on Monday.” “I don’t have to go shopping today.”
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Modal Verbs of Obligation
