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Must and have to: what are the rules? Must and have to exercises for rules and duties

This A2 drill lesson gives must and have to exercises on what is necessary, what isn't necessary and what isn't allowed, with had to for the past.

Grammar
Must and mustn't + base verb, have to / has to, don't / doesn't have to, had to, questions with do, does or did, short answers, and mustn't against don't have to.
Topic
A summer job at an invented theme park: the staff handbook, Tadeo's message home, his talk with the manager, the park's signs and Saskia's texts.
Activities
True or false, sorting, choices, gap-fills, matching, drag-and-drop texts, word order, tables, quizzes, a memory game and a chat, each one checking itself.

What's inside

  1. Chapter 1The rule

    • PictureUnlock
    • Study the scheme: must and have toGrammar schemeTry it
    • Is the sentence correct? Mark true or falseTrue or falseUnlock
    • Sort the sentences: necessary, not necessary or not allowed?Sort into columnsTry it
    • Choose the right formChoose the optionUnlock
    • Write the short formFill in the gapsUnlock

  2. Chapter 2Must and mustn't: the rules

    • Fill in the gaps: must + verbFill in the gapsTry it
    • Choose must or mustn'tChoose the optionUnlock
    • Match the signs and the rulesMatchUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Put the words in the right orderUnjumbleUnlock
    • Find the mistake and choose the right wordsQuizUnlock
    • Read the pool rules and fill in the gaps with must or mustn'tFill in the gapsUnlock

  3. Chapter 3Have to, has to, had to

    • Fill in the gaps: have to or has to + verbFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: don't have to or doesn't have toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Fill in the table: positive, negative, questionFill in the tableTry it
    • Fill in the gaps: make questions with have toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Choose the right short answerChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: had to and didn't have toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Find the mistake and choose the right words: have toQuizUnlock
    • Put the words in order to make questionsUnjumbleUnlock

  4. Chapter 4Mustn't or don't have to?

    • Choose the right words: not allowed or not necessary?Choose the optionTry it
    • Match the rules and the reasonsMatchUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with mustn't or don't / doesn't have toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Drag the words into the gaps: all the formsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Choose the sentence with the same meaningQuizUnlock
    • Put the words in the right order: not allowed or not necessaryUnjumbleUnlock
    • Read Grandpa Arvid's story and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock

  5. Chapter 5Real life: A summer job at Copperwood

    • Read the staff handbookReal-life documentUnlock
    • Read the handbook again: true or false?True or falseUnlock
    • Read Tadeo's message to his grandma and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Read Tadeo's talk with Ms. Delacroix and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Read the signs at the park and choose the right wordsChoose the optionUnlock
    • Choose the right replies: Saskia texts youChatTry it
    • Test yourself: choose the right answerQuizUnlock

  6. Chapter 6Homework

    • Choose the right form: at the officeChoose the optionUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps with have to: now and in the pastFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Fill in the gaps: negative sentences with have toFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Put the words in the right order: sentencesUnjumbleUnlock
    • Sort the words: has to or have to?Sort into columnsUnlock
    • Put the words in the right order: questionsUnjumbleUnlock
    • Choose the right short answer: a new jobChoose the optionUnlock
    • Match the questions and the answersMatchUnlock
    • Find the matching pairs: the sign and the ruleMemory gameUnlock
    • Choose the correct sentenceQuizUnlock
    • Fill in the table: now and in the pastFill in the tableUnlock
    • Choose mustn't or don't have to: at schoolChoose the optionUnlock
    • Read the job ad and drag the words into the gapsDrag and dropUnlock
    • Read Zelda's postcard from summer camp and fill in the gapsFill in the gapsUnlock
    • Write the questions: Do, Does or Did … have to?Fill in the gapsUnlock

50 exercises in 6 chapters. Start a 7-day free trial to open all of them, copy any part into your own lessons, and teach the lesson live.

Grammar: must, have to, mustn't and don't have to

Must and have to both say something is necessary. Their negatives mean very different things: don't have to says it isn't necessary, while mustn't says it isn't allowed.

Must and have to: what are the rules?

Say what is necessary (must, have to), what isn't necessary (don't have to) and what isn't allowed (mustn't).

must / mustn't + verb: every person

Must never changes and takes the base verb with no to: Everybody must wear a helmet. She must call her mom. Its negative is mustn't, short for must not: Visitors mustn't touch the animals.

subjectmust / mustn'tverb

Everybody must wear a helmet.

She must call her mom.

Visitors mustn't touch the animals. (mustn't = must not)

have to, has to, had to

He, she and it take has to. Negatives and questions use do or does: He doesn't have to work. Do you have to work today? – Yes, I do. The past is had to for every person, with didn't and Did.

have to: every person + − ?

WhoPositive (+)Negative (−)Question (?)
II have to work.I don't have to work.Do I have to work?
youYou have to work.You don't have to work.Do you have to work?
heHe has to work.He doesn't have to work.Does he have to work?
sheShe has to work.She doesn't have to work.Does she have to work?
itIt has to stop.It doesn't have to stop.Does it have to stop?
weWe have to work.We don't have to work.Do we have to work?
theyThey have to work.They don't have to work.Do they have to work?
past: every personI / She had to work.I / She didn't have to work.Did you / she have to work?

Questions and short answers

QuestionYesNo
Do you have to work today?Yes, I do.No, I don't.
Does she have to get up early?Yes, she does.No, she doesn't.
Do they have to stay?Yes, they do.No, they don't.
Did you have to drive?Yes, I did.No, I didn't.

Necessary, not necessary or not allowed?

Every worker has to wear a name badge: it's necessary. It's Sunday! We don't have to go to school: there's no need. You mustn't use your phone during the test: it isn't allowed.

What does it mean?

It's necessary

  • must · have to · has to
  • Every worker has to wear a name badge.
  • I must call Grandma tonight!

It isn't necessary

  • don't have to · doesn't have to
  • My sister doesn't have to cook tonight. We're eating out.

It isn't allowed

  • mustn't (must not)
  • You mustn't swim in the lake. It's dangerous.

Examples

  • Guests must be 48 inches or taller.a rule on a sign
  • My brother has to get up at six for school.necessary
  • It's Sunday! We don't have to go to school.not necessary
  • You mustn't use your phone during the test.not allowed
  • Last summer, I had to work every weekend.the past
  • Do I have to wear a tie? No, you don't.question and short answer

Must or have to? And the past

In everyday American English, have to is more common, and must is typical of rules and signs. Only have to has a past and questions with do: Yesterday I had to work, not I must work yesterday; Do I have to…?, not Do I must…?

Must or have to? And the past

Must and have to both mean it's necessary. In everyday American English, people say have to more often; must is common in rules and on signs. Must never changes: He must go (not: He musts go). Must has no past: Yesterday I had to work (not: I must work yesterday). Questions: Do / Does / Did … have to? (not: Do I must…?)

Common mistakes

The scheme fixes I must to go now, My sister have to work and Does he has to pay? For a rule against something, use mustn't: You mustn't smoke here, not You don't have to smoke here.

  • I must to go now.

    I must go now.

    no to after must

  • My sister have to work.

    My sister has to work.

    he, she, it + has to

  • Does he has to pay?

    Does he have to pay?

    do / does / did + have to

  • You don't have to smoke here.

    You mustn't smoke here.

    not allowed = mustn't

More lessons on this grammar: Modal verbs lessons and exercises

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What's in the lesson

  • 41 auto-checked exercises
  • 6 games
  • 1 real-life document
  • 1 grammar scheme
  • 1 picture

The main objectives of this lesson are to:

  • say what is necessary with must or have to: Every passenger must have a ticket. My mom is a nurse. She has to work at night.
  • tell not necessary from not allowed: The museum is free on Sundays. You don't have to pay. The stove is hot. You mustn't touch it.
  • use had to for the past: My car broke down yesterday, so I had to take the bus.
  • ask with do, does or did: Does Mia have to take the bus to school? – No, she doesn't.
  • keep must the same for every person, with no to: She must finish her report today, not She must to finish or She musts finish
Grammar:
must / mustn't · have to / has to · don't have to vs mustn't · had to
Topic:
grammar practice · rules · summer job · theme park

Teaching tips

  • Let groups draft a fair rulebook: each group writes three rules with must or mustn't and one thing students don't have to do, then the class votes for the fairest list.
  • Sketch signs on the board: draw NO PHOTOS, FREE ENTRY or SHOES OFF and let students say the rule: You mustn't take photos. You don't have to buy a ticket.
  • Compare childhood with today: like Grandpa Arvid, students tell a partner one thing they had to do as a child and one thing they don't have to do now: I had to walk to school.

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The whole course: English Grammar Practice · A2

English Grammar Practice · A2 has 28 drill lessons, one grammar point each: the past simple and continuous, used to, comparatives, going to and will, the present perfect, modals, the zero and first conditionals and questions. Each has the rule as a scheme, 43 to 47 exercises that check themselves, 15 of them for homework, and no new words.See the course

  1. 1Past simple with -ed: moving day!
  2. 2Past simple irregular verbs: we went, we saw, we bought
  3. 3Past simple negatives and questions: where did the cake go?
  4. 4Past continuous: what were you doing at 9 p.m.?
  5. 5Past simple or past continuous: what were you doing when it happened?
  6. 6Used to: how things were back then
  7. 7Comparatives: which one is better?
  8. 8Superlatives: the best in town
  9. 9As … as, too, enough: is it the right size?
  10. 10Adverbs of manner: how did she drive?
  11. 11Much, many, a few, a little: how much do we need?
  12. 12Possessive pronouns: whose is it?
  13. 13Be going to: what's your plan?
  14. 14Will: what will the future bring?
  15. 15Present continuous for plans: what are you doing tonight?
  16. 16Will vs going to: decided before or right now?
  17. 17Present perfect: have you ever tried it?
  18. 18Just, already, yet: have you done it yet?
  19. 19For and since: how long have you known her?
  20. 20Present perfect or past simple: up to now or finished time?
  21. 21Must and have to: what are the rules?
  22. 22Should: what should I do?
  23. 23Can, could, may: could you help me, please?
  24. 24Verb + to or -ing: what do you enjoy doing?
  25. 25Zero conditional: what happens if…?
  26. 26First conditional: what will you do if it rains?
  27. 27Articles: a, the or no article?
  28. 28Subject and object questions: who won the quiz?
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