Access a collection of 101 printable PDF worksheets focusing on the English grammar topic of the have to.
Download fill-in-the-blank tests with exercises and answer keys for have to to print for free.
The activities in the sheets are suitable for kids, adults, ESL learners at the beginner, elementary, and intermediate levels to practice English grammar.
Have To and Its Function as a Modal Verb of Necessity:
In English grammar, have to serves as a modal verb of necessity, indicating that something is required, obligatory, or essential. As a modal verb, have to is used to express a sense of duty, compulsion, or external requirement. It highlights the necessity of performing a specific action or adhering to certain obligations, making it an essential part of everyday communication.
Using Have To to Express Obligations or Duties:
Have to is commonly used to express obligations or duties. When using have to in this context, individuals indicate that they are compelled or required to do something. For example, "I have to finish my assignment" implies that there is a responsibility to complete the assignment.
Have To in Affirmative Sentences with Different Subjects:
Have to is employed in affirmative sentences with various subjects to denote their respective obligations or requirements. The usage remains consistent across different subjects. For instance, "She has to go" emphasizes her obligation to leave, while "They have to study" highlights their requirement to engage in studying.
Have To in Negative Sentences with "Not":
The negative form of have to is created by adding "not" after the modal verb. For example, "He does not have to attend the meeting" indicates that there is no obligation or requirement for him to be present at the meeting.
Have To in Questions to Inquire About Obligations:
Have to is used in questions to inquire about obligations or requirements that apply to someone. For instance, "Do you have to work late?" seeks information about the necessity of working late.
Present Tense Forms of Have To:
The present tense forms of have to vary based on the subject. They include "I have to", "You have to", "He/she/it has to", "We have to", and "They have to." Each form is used to indicate obligations that are relevant in the present time frame.
Past Tense Forms of Have To:
The past tense forms of have to are constructed by using "had to" with different subjects. The forms include "I had to", "You had to", "He/she/it had to", "We had to", and "They had to." These forms indicate obligations that were applicable in the past.
Using Have To to Express External Requirements or Rules:
Have to is used to express external requirements or rules that individuals must follow. For instance, "We have to wear masks in public" highlights the mandatory nature of wearing masks in public spaces.
Have To With Infinitive Verbs to Indicate the Action or Task That is Necessary:
Have to is commonly followed by an infinitive verb to indicate the specific action or task that is necessary. For example, "You have to complete the assignment" points to the essential task of completing the assignment.
Have To in Sentences with Specific Time Expressions:
Time expressions are often used in conjunction with have to to specify when an obligation must be fulfilled. For instance, "She has to leave by 6 PM" indicates the deadline for her departure.
Using Have To With "Just" to Indicate Recent Obligations:
Have to can be combined with "just" to express recent obligations. For example, "I have to finish this just now" conveys the immediate nature of the obligation to complete a task.
Have To in Sentences With Adverbs of Frequency:
Adverbs of frequency, such as "often" and "sometimes", can be used with have to to indicate how regularly an obligation occurs. For instance, "He has to visit the doctor often" emphasizes the regularity of his doctor visits.
Using Have To With Modal Verbs for Politeness or Emphasis:
Have to can be used in combination with modal verbs like "really" or "must" to add politeness or emphasis to the obligation. For example, "We really have to be careful" highlights the importance of being cautious.
Have To in Sentences With Future Time Reference:
Have to can be used to indicate obligations or requirements that will be applicable in the future. For instance, "She will have to make a decision soon" suggests a future obligation to make a decision.
Have To in Expressions of Urgency or Importance:
Have to can be used to express urgency or the importance of an obligation. For example, "We have to act quickly" emphasizes the need for immediate action.
Using Have To With "Really" or "Absolutely" for Stronger Emphasis:
Have to can be paired with adverbs like "really" or "absolutely" to provide stronger emphasis on the obligation. For instance, "I absolutely have to attend the meeting" underscores the high priority of attending the meeting.
Have To in Sentences With Indefinite Pronouns:
Indefinite pronouns can be used with have to to express obligations that apply to everyone or no one in particular. For example, "Everyone has to participate in the event" indicates a general requirement for all individuals.
Have To in Sentences With Demonstrative Pronouns:
Have to can be used with demonstrative pronouns to indicate specific tasks or actions that are necessary. For instance, "That has to be done by tomorrow" points to a specific task that needs to be completed by the following day.
Have To in Sentences With Specific Adjectives:
Specific adjectives can be used with have to to indicate the extent of the obligation or requirement. For example, "She was so sick that she had to stay in bed" illustrates an obligation resulting from the severity of her sickness.
Using Have To in Causal Relationships:
Have to can be used in causal relationships to explain why an obligation or requirement exists. For instance, "I have to work late because of the deadline" establishes a cause-and-effect relationship between the deadline and the need to work late.
Have To in Sentences With "Otherwise" to Express Consequences:
Have to can be paired with "otherwise" to express potential consequences if an obligation is not met. For example, "Study hard; otherwise, you will have to repeat the exam" implies the consequence of repeating the exam if one doesn't study diligently.
Using Have To With "Just in Case" for Precautionary Measures:
Have to can be used with the phrase "just in case" to indicate precautionary measures. For instance, "Take an umbrella, just in case it rains" suggests carrying an umbrella as a precaution for the possibility of rain.
Have To in Expressions of Willingness:
Have to can be used to express willingness to help or assist someone. For example, "I have to help my friend with moving" conveys a voluntary willingness to assist with moving.
Using Have To With Modal Verbs to Indicate Necessary Conditions:
Have to can be combined with modal verbs like "be" to indicate necessary conditions or prerequisites for certain outcomes. For instance, "We have to be present at the meeting to vote" suggests that being present at the meeting is a requirement for voting.
Have To in Sentences With "Too" to Express Excessive Obligations:
Have to can be used with "too" to indicate excessive or overwhelming obligations. For example, "I have too many things to do today" conveys the feeling of having an overwhelming number of tasks.
Have To in Sentences With Specific Dates or Deadlines:
Specific dates or deadlines can be used with have to to indicate time-bound obligations. For instance, "We have to submit the report by Friday" specifies the deadline for submitting the report.
Using Have To With "Can't" to Express Impossibility or Prohibition:
Have to can be used with "can't" to express impossibility or prohibition. For example, "You can't do that; you have to follow the rules" prohibits a specific action and reinforces the necessity of adhering to the rules.
Have To in Sentences With "Due To" or "Because Of" to Explain the Reason for the Obligation:
Have to can be used with "due to" or "because of" to explain the reason for the obligation or requirement. For example, "She has to attend the conference due to her job" clarifies that her job necessitates attending the conference.
Using Have To With "Supposed To" to Indicate Expected Behavior or Actions:
Have to can be combined with "supposed to" to indicate expected behavior or actions. For instance, "We are supposed to arrive early for the event" implies that arriving early is the expected behavior.
Have To in Sentences With "Not Necessarily" to Imply Flexibility in the Obligation:
Have to can be used with "not necessarily" to imply flexibility in the obligation. For example, "It's an optional event; you don't have to attend" suggests that attendance is not mandatory.
Have To in Sentences With "Hardly" or "Almost" to Indicate the Minimal Requirement:
Have to can be used with "hardly" or "almost" to indicate the minimal requirement. For instance, "He hardly has to study for exams" implies that he needs to study minimally to perform well.
Using Have To With "Pretty" or "Quite" to Express a Significant Obligation:
Have to can be paired with "pretty" or "quite" to express a significant or substantial obligation. For example, "It's pretty challenging; you have to be fully prepared" emphasizes the demanding nature of the task.
Have To in Sentences With "I'm Afraid" to Express Regret or Apologies for the Obligation:
Have to can be used in conjunction with "I'm afraid" to express regret or apologies for the obligation. For instance, "I'm afraid I have to cancel our plans" conveys the speaker's regret in canceling the plans.
Using Have To With "Yet" or "Already" to Express Whether the Obligation Has Been Fulfilled:
Have to can be combined with "yet" or "already" to express whether the obligation has been fulfilled or completed. For example, "Have you finished the project yet? No, I haven't had to start" suggests that the speaker has not yet started the project.
Have To in Sentences With "For Sure" or "Definitely" to Emphasize the Certainty of the Obligation:
Have to can be used with "for sure" or "definitely" to emphasize the certainty of the obligation. For instance, "We have to meet him for sure" conveys the absolute need to meet the person.
Have To in Sentences With "The Least" or "The Most" to Indicate the Minimal or Maximal Requirement:
Have to can be used with "the least" or "the most" to indicate the minimal or maximal requirement. For example, "She has to do the least amount of work" suggests that she has the minimal workload.
Using Have To With "Ought To" to Suggest Moral or Practical Obligation:
Have to can be combined with "ought to" to suggest moral or practical obligation. For instance, "You ought to apologize; you have to make it right" implies that apologizing is both morally right and necessary.
Have To in Sentences With "To Be Honest" or "Frankly Speaking" to Express Sincerity About the Obligation:
Have to can be used with expressions like "to be honest" or "frankly speaking" to express sincerity about the obligation. For example, "To be honest, I have to decline the invitation" conveys the speaker's sincere reason for declining the invitation.
Using Have To With "By All Means" to Strongly Encourage Compliance:
Have to can be used with the phrase "by all means" to strongly encourage compliance with the obligation. For instance, "By all means, you have to try the new restaurant" strongly recommends trying the new restaurant.
Have To in Sentences With "Sort Of" or "Kind Of" to Express a Mild or Partial Obligation:
Have to can be used with expressions like "sort of" or "kind of" to express a mild or partial obligation. For example, "It's a kind of obligation; you have to contribute" suggests that contributing is somewhat obligatory.
Using Have To With "Pretty Much" or "Almost Always" to Indicate Regularity in the Obligation:
Have to can be used with "pretty much" or "almost always" to indicate regularity in the obligation. For instance, "We pretty much have to attend these meetings" suggests that attending the meetings is a recurring obligation.
Have To in Sentences With "Regardless" to Imply That the Obligation is Unavoidable:
Have to can be used with "regardless" to imply that the obligation is unavoidable, regardless of the circumstances. For example, "Regardless of the circumstances, we have to follow the rules" emphasizes the obligation to adhere to rules without exception.
In conclusion, have to serves as a versatile and essential modal verb of necessity in English. It is used to express obligations, requirements, and external rules that individuals must adhere to. Whether in affirmative or negative sentences, questions, or expressions of willingness, have to effectively conveys the idea of necessity and duty. It can be paired with various adverbs, adjectives, time expressions, and other modal verbs to add nuances and emphases to the obligations. From expressing significant obligations to indicating minimal requirements, have to plays a crucial role in effective communication and conveying a wide range of obligations and necessities in daily life.