Must have to

Question

Please,one of my colleague found in Grammar book(if my memory works well,it's Cambridge) "must have to".Is there any difference between "must or have to  and must have to" ?Thanks in advance

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

Hi elh:
I guess you are asking about the difference between must" and "have to."
They are often used interchangably:

I must go to the store today because I am out of milk.
I have to go to the store today because I am out of milk.

Now, here are two examples of must have to:

Vitamins are elements that the body must have to prevent disease.
I can't hear him, so I don't know exactly what he is saying, but it must have to do with his favorite subject.

In these cases, have is the main verb following must, like go in my first example. Must have to is not a verb phrase like have to.

Everlastinghope · Answer

AlpheccaStarsVitamins are elements that the body must have to prevent disease

I think the main verb here isn't have to as you explained but prevent,is it ?

I didn't get the difference ?It's too confusing.

AlpheccaStars · Answer

everlastinghope
AlpheccaStarsVitamins are elements that the body must have to prevent disease

I think the main verb here isn't have to as you explained but prevent,is it ?
I didn't get the difference ?It's too confusing.

It is confusing! These are complex sentences.
I will try to be clear.
Here are 3 sentences, each with more words:

1) People have vitamins. -> The verb is "have"

2) People must have vitamins. -> The helping verb is must, the main verb is have.

3) People must have vitamins to prevent disease.
The phrase "to prevent disease" answers the question why. It is an adverb phrase. The main verb has not changed.

If this is still not clear, let me know.
A-

s

CalifJim · Answer

everlastinghopePlease,one of my colleague found in Grammar book(if my memory works well,it's Cambridge) "must have to".Is there any difference between "must or have to and must have to" ?
Thanks in advance

OK. So your colleague found "must have to" in a book. This is not as surprising as you may think. You can find lots of combinations of words in a book.

But unless you tell us the whole sentence in which these words appeared, there is really little we can do to help you. Word groups mean different things depending on the rest of the words in the sentence.

There is, of course, a difference between "must or have to" and "must have to". The word "or" appears in the first combination, but not in the second. As I mentioned above, however, it is impossible to help you any more than that if you don't provide further information.

CJ

Everlastinghope · Answer

Here's the example: you can't start the computer,you must have to know the password.It's explained as follows : we use must have to"to conclude about a situation that is based on present fact".I didn't undestand it because we can use for example unless instead.

There's also must have had to which is based on past situation.

Hope this might help you to explain more.

Thanks

Ticce · Answer

Check this thread out

AlpheccaStars · Answer

everlastinghopeyou can't start the computer, you must have to know the password.

Hi ELH;

It is possible to make such a combination, but you will seldom see it.

Suppose I am watching someone trying to start the computer. She gets to a password entry screen and she hits the Enter key. The computer just puts up the password entry screen again. She types in "password" and Enter. The computer just puts up the password entry screen again.

I could say: From what I observe, you must have to know the correct password. After all, Bob was able to use it yesterday. He must have known the password.

But I would never actually say that first sentence. I would say:
I think you have to know (have) the right password.

Regards,
A-

s

CalifJim · Answer

everlastinghopeyou can't start the computer,you must have to know the password.

OK. Now we're talking! Now I see what you mean.

You can't start the computer.
Why? What is the reason?
You have to do something to make it start.
Are you sure that you have to do something?
Yes. I'm fairly sure that you have to type in a password.
So you have to know the password? It's required?

Yes. You have to know the password. You are required to know the password.

That's the only thing you need? The password?
Yes. It must be the only thing. There's nothing else I can think of.
So the only logical conclusion is that you have to know the password?
Yes. It must be the case that I am required know the password.
I see. So you must ... uh ... have to know the password, because there's no other possibility.

Right. The only logical conclusion is that you have to know the password.
In other words, you must have to know the password.
Right.
______________

In other words, must says "The only logical conclusion is that ...", and have to says, "required".

You must have to know it. = The only logical conclusion is that you are required to know it.
= There is no other possibility except that you are required to know it.

______________

This is the use of must which draws logical conclusions. It is not the use of must which specifies an obligation. These are two different meanings of must. In the expressions must have to and must have had to, only the meaning which draws logical conclusions is possible for must. The meaning of obligation or requirement is carried by have to.

-- Karen is going to bed very early tonight.
-- Yes. I noticed that too. I wonder why.
-- She must have to wake up early.
(= The only conclusion I can think of is that she has the obligation to wake up early.
It must be true that she has to wake up early.)

CJ

Everlastinghope · Answer

Thanks a million,now it's clear for me and the way you explained it is easy to understand,,thanks again .[Y]

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