must & have to

Question

I'm wondering if there is any difference as for meaning between "must do" and "have to do". I feel like "have to" has a slightly softer impression than "must", but how do you feel or what do you think about the two expressions??

AlpheccaStars · Accepted Answer

"Must" can more strident and forceful. It is also more formal. But intonation must be taken into account, too.

Mother: Son, stop playing those video games. You know you have to do your homework for tomorrow.
(5 minutes later)
Mother: Son, I asked you to stop playing video games. You have to do your homework.
(5 minutes later)
Mother: Stop playing video games this minute! You MUST do your homework - NOW!

Fivejedjon · Answer

I, like quite a few speakers of BrE, use 'must' for a speaker-imposed obligation and 'have to for an externally opposed obligation. This explains why a sign will normally tell you "Visitors must (not 'have to') report to Reception", though I might tell a visitor "You have to (not 'must' report to Reception".

It also explains why a teacher will usually say "You must do your homework' but parents have free choice between 'must' and 'have to' depending on whether they are imposing the obligation or thinking of it as an obligation imposed by the teacher. In As's example, it could be that the mother was at first reporting what the teacher required; Five minutes later, she added her own requirement.

There are several problems with my analysis:

- Not all speakers feel this difference, .
- Some speakers of AmE appear to use 'must' very little, if at all.
- I have seen claims that 'must' is more forceful. I've also seen claims that 'have to' is more forceful!
- As AS said, intonation must be taken into account.
- As 'must' has no must-tense form, there can be no difference in the past.

My advice to learners would be not to worry too much about it. Your intended message will come through even if you choose the one of the two that a native speaker wouldn't in some particular context.

Remember however that there is a big difference once you add a not/n't.

Quỳnh Huỳnh · Answer

Sorry I'm not very good at English so I don't know how to explain it clearly in English. But I hope you will understand it through these examples:
* Must: subjective opinions
- Writer's thinking: Sorry, I must go home right now to do my homwork.
- Regulation: Students must wear uniforms at school.
- Strict requirement: (manager) You must finish your report by the deadline.
* Have to: objective opinion
I have to be at the train station at 5pm this evening.
She has to live alone by herself after her mother's dead

Anonymous · Answer

I'm a non-native and it doesn't bother me much which form of expressing obligation I use in a statement. Have to is always handy because it can be used in the past tense, e.g. had to do, and with the -ing forms, e.g. having to do.

Hachi8 · Answer

Thanks to all the commenters here for the good explanations about the topic:}}

Hachi8 · Answer

'must' for a speaker-imposed obligation and 'have to for an externally opposed obligation

Considering what you taught above, I've got to feel that "must" is direct and "have to" is roundabout.

must & have to

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