Grammar › Must, have to and should

Must, have to and should: questions

450 fill-in-the-gap exercises, 45 tests of ten

Must and should swap with the subject. Have to needs do or does.

Two patterns in one topic

This is what makes the group awkward. Must and should are modals and swap with the subject:

Must I sign it? — Should I sign it?

Have to is an ordinary verb phrase and needs an auxiliary:

Do I have to sign it? — Does she have to sign it? — Did they have to sign it?

Which question people actually ask

Must I…? is rare and can sound reluctant, almost like a complaint. In everyday English the question about obligation is nearly always Do I have to…?

Should I…? on the other hand is extremely common, because asking for advice is an everyday thing to do.

Answering

Match the auxiliary in the question:

• Do I have to come? — No, you don’t.
• Should I come? — Yes, you should.
• Must I come? — No, you needn’t.

Note the last one: the natural negative answer to must is needn’t, not mustn’t, because mustn’t would mean you are forbidden to come.

Asking about the past

Only have to has a past question form:

Did you have to wait long?

All forms

Examples

Taken from the 450 sentences in this drill. The answer is highlighted.

• When does the lifeguard have to carry a first aid kit?
• Do the wardens have to store the keys in a safe?
• When should the sailor wear a life jacket on deck?
• Does the chairman have to declare any private interest?
• Why should the guides carry a first-aid kit?
• Must the visitor sign the book at reception?
• Does the nurse have to keep a written record?
• Do the plumbers have to check the pressure each morning?
• What time should the farmers record every delivery of milk?
• Should the warehouse worker report any damaged pallet?
• Where should the runner register before the first of May?
• Do the bakers have to start work at four in the morning?

Mistakes to avoid

Quick choices from this form

Other forms of Must, have to and should