Must or have to

Question

Hello,Which is the correct choice in these examples have to or must? I must  be at the meeting by 10:00. I will probably  take a taxi if I want to be on time. If you are over 18 in California, you  have to  take a driver training course to get a driver's license. You can have a friend or a family member teach you instead. But remember, you have to  still get your permit before you start practicing.You  have to be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.While hiking in Alaska, you have to keep an eye out for bears. If you see one, you must not   approach it. They are beautiful animals; however, they are wild and unpredictable in nature. You have to   be afraid of them, but educating yourself about the dangers can help keep you safe.Thanks

MrBen · Accepted Answer

I must be at the meeting by 10:00. I will probably take a taxi if I want to be on time. Both would be correct in this sentence.

If you are over 18 in California, you have to take a driver training course to get a driver's license. You can have a friend or a family member teach you instead. But remember, you have to still get your permit before you start practicing. Correct.

You have to be (?) rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name. According to your second sentence, neither would be correct in the first sentence Or maybe you forgot a word? Do they both mean the same thing in the negative?

While hiking in Alaska, you have to keep an eye out for bears. If you see one, you must not approach it. They are beautiful animals; however, they are wild and unpredictable in nature. You have to be afraid of them, but educating yourself about the dangers can help keep you safe. These are OK.

The difference between "must" and "have to" is very slight, and we don't always respect it. We use "have to" to explain what the obligations are. We use "must" when we are the person setting the obligations. So when I was a teenager my mother told me "You must be home at midnight!" and I told my friends "I have to be home at midnight." So in your first example, you are requiring your self to be at the meeting, but you can also just say you have an obligation to go. In your second example, you are just reporting the obligations. Your third example is special. The fourth is hard because you're giving advice and reporting the obligations. I think the message is correct and understandable. Nice work!

Thanks You're welcome!

Nina_Nia · Answer

Hello,

Your answers are very helpful. :) The confusing sentence I copied and pasted from this website: http://www.englishpage.com/modals/interactivemodal2.htm You be rich to be a success. Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name.
If someone decides to work hard to become rich then 'must' would be a right choice and if the situation requires then 'have to' according to your explanations. Am I right?

I would be grateful if you read and answered this question too.

MrBen · Answer

Did you check your answers on that page? Haha... I caught youthis time!

The correct sentence is: "you don't have to be rich to be a success."

Nina_Nia · Answer

I checked, but most of the time there is more than one option possible. So I trust  native speakers more.<img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/1.gif' alt='Emotion: smile'/>

MrBen · Answer

Well in this case, there is only one option because "mustn't" and "don't have to" have very different meanings.

Nina_Nia · Answer

Yes, I know the meanings are very very  different. <img class='emoticon' style='Width:19px;Height:19px;' data-delaysrc='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/15.gif' src='https://uat-englishforward-forums-backend.s3.us-west-2.amazonaws.com/Emoticons/15.gif' alt='Emotion: geeked'/>Maybe the original sentence doesn't have to be negative?

MrBen · Answer

Well, if we didn't already know that money does not accurately measure success, the next sentence in the exercise makes it clear: "Some of the most successful people I know haven't got a penny to their name."

Nina_Nia · Answer

Oh, I didn't pay attention to that.

Now it's clear to me. Finally!!!

Must or have to

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions