Have to / Don’t Have to (Obligation)
Express necessity with have to / has to, and lack of necessity (optional, not forbidden) with don't have to. A2 grammar with 20 questions.
We use have to to talk about obligation — things that are necessary, often because of a rule or someone else’s requirement. “Aisha has to wear a uniform at school.” And we use don’t have to for the opposite: when something is not necessary.
How to make it: have to / has to + base verb
| Subject | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I / you / we / they | have to | I have to study tonight. |
| he / she / it | has to | Omar has to work on Saturday. |
Watch he/she/itWith he, she, it, “have to” becomes has to. “Aisha has to go,” not “Aisha have to go.”
The important difference: don’t have to
This is the part learners often get wrong. Don’t have to does NOT mean something is forbidden — it means it is not necessary. You have a choice.
| Phrase | Meaning |
|---|---|
| have to | It is necessary. (no choice) |
| don’t / doesn’t have to | It is NOT necessary. (you can choose) |
- You have to bring your ID. (necessary)
- You don’t have to bring a laptop — it’s optional. (not necessary)
- Omar doesn’t have to work on Sunday. (he is free)
Questions and the past
- Question: Do you have to wear a uniform? — Yes, I do. / No, I don’t.
- Past: I had to study all weekend.
Tutor tip for Arabic speakersBe careful: don’t have to = it’s optional, NOT forbidden. “You don’t have to come” means you can choose not to come — it does not mean “don’t come.” For something forbidden, we use mustn’t (next lesson).
Common mistakes
- She have to work. → She has to work.
- Do you have to going? → Do you have to go?
- I must to study. → I have to study.
Practise obligation with the 20 questions below.
Check your understanding
Answer the questions below. You will see instantly if you are right.
1."I ___ study tonight." (necessary)
I + have to.
2."Omar ___ work on Saturday."
he + has to.
3.Which is correct?
she + has to work.
4."You ___ bring your ID." (it is necessary)
necessary → have to.
5."You ___ bring a laptop — it's optional."
not necessary → don't have to.
6."don't have to" means:
not necessary / optional.
7."Omar ___ work on Sunday. He is free."
he + doesn't have to.
8.Question: "___ you have to wear a uniform?"
Do you have to...?
9.Answer: "Do you have to work today?" (no)
No, I don't.
10.Past: "I ___ study all weekend."
past → had to.
11.Which is correct?
have to + base verb: go.
12."My brother ___ get up early for school."
he + has to.
13."We ___ pay now; we can pay later." (not necessary now)
optional → don't have to.
14."You don't have to come" means:
optional, not forbidden.
15.Which is correct?
have to + base verb (no "to" after must).
16."She ___ wear glasses to read."
she + has to.
17.Negative: "They ___ wait — they can go in now."
don't have to.
18."___ Aisha have to study tonight?"
Does + she: Does Aisha have to...?
19."In my country, you ___ drive on the left." (a rule)
a rule = have to.
20.Choose the full correct sentence:
doesn't have to + base verb.
Want feedback from a real tutor on your reading, writing and speaking?
Book a Free Consultation