English grammar

Question

i want to know about the defference between you are to and you have to

Dave Phillips · Accepted Answer

You are -I guess you mean for the future. (Rather than you are posting on this site or you are my friend).

You are going to work on Monday - I know this because you have a job and there is evidence/ my experience that tells me so.

You have to go to you work on Monday - you must go to work on Monday.

Minhhai2209 · Answer

I think he means "you are to" as in "You are to do your homework before you watch TV." I'm wondering what is the different too.

Davidbendtner · Answer

Hi Anon,

i think the previous two comments are also good and by now you must understand the basic difrence in the following two terms..

But frankly i had never came across the term your are to..perhaps it might be "you are too.."

But yes you have to..is been very common and we often came across with it while reading writing and speaking..

Thanks:
David.

Tanit · Answer

Hi,

AnonymousI want to know about the difference between you are to and you have to

In the words of Swann (Practical English Usage, 3rd edn, § 91.1 and 91.2)

1. Plans and arrangements: He is to visit Nigeria
We use this structure in a formal style to talk about official and other plans and arrangements.
The President is to visit Nigeria next month.
We are to get a 10 per cent wage rise in June. (*)
I felt nervous because I was soon to leave home for the first time.
A perfect infinitive can be used to show that a planned event did not happen.
I was to have started work last week, but I changed my mind.

2. 'fate': We were to meet again
Another use is to talk about things which are/were 'hidden in the future', fated to happen.
I thought we were saying goodbye for ever. But we were to meet again, many years later, under very strange circumstances.

* (I would have written 10 percent, or ten percent, but this is the book's exact wording)

So, 'You are to ...' is formal and used to refer to future events that can be either planned or bound to happen, while 'You have to ...' expresses obligation.

Andriy Lapin · Answer

Greetings,

while agreeing with the comments above, I should add that, although to be + inf. and to have + inf. both express a shade of obligation or necessity, there is a great difference in meaning, which can be illustrated thus:

As I was to be there at 5 sharp<part of an arrangement>, I had to take a taxi<necessity arising out of this arrangement>.

Respectfully, Gleb Chebrikoff

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