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05-Jan-2006, 04:01
| | Member | | Join Date: May 2005 Country: Japan
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| |  "must" and "have to"
I’m not sure when to use these words.
I have read somewhere that “must” is used when you want it, and “have to” is used when you can’t avoid it. Is that true?
For example, which should I use when I want to say the following?
“Please tell Kathy I miss her so much. She must/has to come with you next time”. |
05-Jan-2006, 06:55
| | Editor, UsingEnglish.com | | Join Date: Nov 2002 Country: UK
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| | Re: "must" and "have to"
I'd use 'must' there to express how much I want her to be there. |
05-Jan-2006, 23:58
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| | Re: "must" and "have to"
Thank you, tdol! 
What does it sound like if I use “has to” there?
Will the meaning of the sentence change? |
06-Jan-2006, 01:01
|  | Junior Member | | Join Date: Aug 2005 Country: USA
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| |  Re: "must" and "have to"
Quote: |
Originally Posted by pink dragon Thank you, tdol!
What does it sound like if I use “has to” there?
Will the meaning of the sentence change? | Hello pink dragon, 
To my American ears, they sound the same. They are virtually interchangeable in AE. In some instances, "must" may sound a little more formal, but really, there is no change in meaning.
Smiles, 
SweetMommaSue |
06-Jan-2006, 03:33
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| | Re: "must" and "have to"
They're pretty interchangeable in BrE to. When urging people, we tend to use 'must', but 'have to' would not be incorrect.  |
06-Jan-2006, 06:05
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| | Re: "must" and "have to"
have to is used for external compulsions.
must for personal obligations. Quote: |
Originally Posted by tdol They're pretty interchangeable in BrE to. When urging people, we tend to use 'must', but 'have to' would not be incorrect. | |
08-Jan-2006, 03:16
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| | Re: "must" and "have to"
That doesn't mean that there are not many cases where they can be used interchangeably, and even your distinction is less clearcut in practice because we also use 'must' to express true asbsolutes, many of which are external. |
10-Jan-2006, 00:56
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| | Re: "must" and "have to"
Thank you very much, SweetMommaSue, rajan, and tdol! | | Thread Tools | | | | Display Modes |  Linear Mode | 
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