Is to be vs has to be

Question

In these sentences:He is to be ....He has to be ....What is the difference please?

CalifJim · Accepted Answer

khoshtipthe difference

The idioms are "have to" and "is to". Both are semi-modal idioms. Any infinitive can follow; it doesn't have to be "be".

"have to" has all the verb forms that other verbs have: has to, had to, will have to, has had to, would have to, had had to, ...
"is to" only has five forms: am to, is to, are to, was to, were to.
___________

"have to" takes a meaning quite similar to the obligation meaning of "must".

I have to be there on time ~ I must be there on time ~ I am required to be there on time.
___________

"is to" has slightly different meanings depending on context. It can be paraphrased as "is going to", "is supposed to", "is expected to", "should", "will", "would", etc., depending on the tense. It has a more flexible meaning than "have to".

The committee is to vote on the issue tomorrow ~ The committee is expected to vote on the issue tomorrow ~ It is foreseen that the committee will vote on the issue tomorrow ~ etc.
You are to read Chapter 5 by the end of the week ~ You are supposed to read Chapter 5 by the end of the week ~ You are expected to ... ~ You should read ... ~ etc.

CJ

Khoshtip · Answer

Thank you. Please give an example that "is to" can be paraphrased as "is going to".

Teechr · Answer

khoshtip Please give an example that "is to" can be paraphrased as "is going to".

The judge ruled that the house is to be sold by the executor.

Khoshtip · Answer

To me "be going to" means a kind of intention. And "is going to" at that sentence more means "should".

Is to be vs has to be

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions