friends talking

A: What time is it?

B: It's six o'clock.

A: Six o'clock? I need to go. I have to go to soccer practice. See you!

B: Bye!

Need / Have + To + Base Verb

  • I need to study tonight.
  • We had to take a bus.
  • Youhave to speak English in this class.
  • I needed to sleep.

Positive Sentences

I
You
We
They

need to

have to

 

needed to

had to

go home.

do my laundry.

practice the piano.

He
She
It

needs to

has to

 

needed to

had to

Negative Sentences

I
You
We
They

do not
(don't)

did not
(didn't)

need to

have to

go home.

do my laundry.

practice the piano.

He
She
It

does not
(doesn't)

did not
(didn't)

Yes / No Questions

Do

Did

I
you
we
they

need to

have to

go?

Does

Did

he
she
it

Short Answers

Yes, I do / did.

Yes, she does / did.

No, I don't / didn't.

No, she doesn't / didn't.

Wh Questions

Where

When

Why

What time

...

do

did

I
you
we
they

need to

have to

go?

does

did

he
she
it

Use

In Unit 11, we studied Must. Have to and Need to have basically the same meaning as Must.

  • I must study tonight.
    • I need to study tonight.
    • I have to study tonight.
  • You must practice.
    • You need to practice.
    • You have to practice.

In Unit 11, we also studied Mustn't. Have to and Need to in the negative have a very different meaning than mustn't:

  • You mustn't do that.
    • Don't do that!
    • It's bad!
  • You don't have / need to do that.
    • You can do that if you want.
    • It's okay!
  • You mustn't go.
    • Don't go!
    • It's bad!
  • You don't need / have to go.
    • You can go if you want.
    • It's okay!
  • You mustn't speak.
    • Don't speak!
    • It's bad!
  • You don't need / have to speak.
    • You can speak if you want.
    • It's okay!

Exercise

Please click the Exercise link to continue.

Exercise

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