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Diamondrg Posted 20 years ago
Grammar

must / have to

0 As far as I know, "has to" is used to express internal obligations, and "must" for external ones. but I think this is too general a rule to explain all uses of them. some grammars say that in some situations both of them are acceptable. and there is also AmE and BrE difference. 02br
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00- Students in most countries must wear uniforms to school. ( not have to)02br
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00- I must tell her that her husband has been deceiving her. (here I think the speaker has an inner urge to tell that, so must is not acceptable)02br
02br
00am I right? can you clarify the point? which one expresses external obligation, and which one internal one?0-
  

Top answer

02br 00 This second one seems to me a special case of the usage of "must" -- something idiomatic, perhaps. It's a must that isn't really a must. This "must" is the "take a mental note" "must", as in, "You must come and visit us more often" or "I really must watch my language more carefully around the children".

— CalifJim

  • 02br 00 This second one seems to me a special case of the usage of "must" -- something idiomatic, perhaps.
  • It's a must that isn't really a must.
  • This "must" is the "take a mental note" "must", as in, "You must come and visit us more often" or "I really must watch my language more carefully around the children".
  • 02br 02br 00 CJ0-
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1 Answers
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0 There are a thousand opinions on this, and the 'external/internal' interpretation has never appealed to me as a speaker of American English.02br
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01i00Students in most countries have to wear uniforms to school.02i02br
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00 That sounds fine to me.02br
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01i00I have to tell her that her husband has bee
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