The verb have has a very wide application both independently and in conjunction with other words. In addition, there are many overlapping areas with other similar verbs.
Need to vs. have to
To talk about the need to do something, you can use the verb need to.
- You might need to see a doctor.
- A number of questions need to be asked.
And in contrast to expressing the lack of need to do something, don’t have, don’t need to, haven’t got to or needn’t.
- Many women don’t have to work/ Many women don’t have to work.
- You don't have to learn any new typing skills/ You don't have to learn any new typing skills.
- You don't need to buy anything/ You don't need to buy anything.
- I haven’t got to go to work/ I don’t have to go to work.
- I can pick John up. You needn't bother / I can give John a lift. You don't have to bother yourself.
To orderneedn't is used to express permission for someone not to do something.
- You needn't say anything if you don't want to/ You don't have to say anything if you don't want to.
- You needn't stay any longer tonight/ You don't have to stay any longer tonight.
To explain that someone did something that was not at all necessary to do, use need not have or needn’t have and the past participle. Often such a construction appeals to cases when, at the time of the action, the performer himself did not suspect that there was no need to perform it.
- I needn’t have waited until the game began.
- Nell needn’t have worked/ Nell didn’t have to work.
- They needn't have worried about Reagan.
If the performer at the time of the action knew that the action was not necessary, then it would be more appropriate to say didn’t need to. This clarification is explained by the fact that the present tense refers to a hypothetical need in general, while the past tense refers to a specific action performed without necessity.
- They didn't need to talk about it.
- I didn't need to worry/ I didn't need to worry.
Also, with the difference that when didn’t need to, the speaker is not sure if the incident actually took place until he receives additional information, for thisyou can use didn't and the modal verb have to. Examples:
- He didn't have to speak/ He didn't have to speak.
- Bill and I didn't have to pay/ Bill and I didn't have to pay.
Must vs. have to
Modal verbs must, have to are sometimes interchangeable. Thus, the verb have comes to the aid of must in the past tense, if you need to emphasize something that should not have happened in the past. You can replace must with It was necessary, It was important not to, had to make sure, had to make certain and the like had to, the modal verb in conjunction with them means “it was important / necessary”, or “it was important / necessary make sure.”
- It was necessary that no one was aware of being watched.
- You had to make sure that you didn't spend too much.
- We had to do our best to make certain that it wasn't out of date/
- It was important not to take the game too seriously.
Should and ought vs. have to
Should and ought can be used to indicate a moderate need, that is, the feeling of need is not as strong as if we used must.
Should and ought are very common in spoken English. should,being a true modal verb, requires the use of the subsequent verb in the base form. And ought requires a to-infinitive after itself. The negation with these verbs looks like should not, shouldn't, ought not, oughtn't and means that there is a moderate need not to do something.
There are three cases where should, ought are used:
1) When it comes to doing something positive or right.
- We should send her a postcard. / We should send her a postcard.
2) When you want to tell someone to do or not to do something.
- You should claim your pension 3-4 month before you retire. / You must apply for your pension 3-4 months before you leave.
3) When you express your point of view or ask someone else's opinion. At the same time, in order to start a sentence, they often use: I think, I don’t think, or Do you think.
- I think that we should be paid more. / I think we should pay more.
Try to distinguish between the use of should, ought and the modal verb have to. The exercises below contain gaps, fill them in:
- We _ spend all the money. / We don't have to spend all the money.
- He _ come more often. / He should come more often.
- You _ see him again. / You shouldn't see him again.
- You _ use a detergent. / You must not use detergent.
- You _ get a new TV. / You need a new TV.
- You _ marryhim. You shouldn't marry him.
- I don't think we _ grumble. / I don't think we should complain.
- Do you think he _ go? / Do you think he shouldn't go?
- What do you think we _ do? / What do you think we should do?
To say that in the past there was a moderate need to do something, but the action was not taken, use should have or ought to have with the past participle. For example, if you say I should have given him the money yesterday, it means that yesterday there was a moderate need for the transfer of money, but the money was not transferred.
- I should have finished my drink and gone home. / I had to finish my drink and go home.
- You should have realized that he was joking. / You should have known he was joking.
- We ought to have stayed in tonight. / We were supposed to stay that night.
- They ought to have taken a taxi. / They should have called a taxi.
If it is required to say that it was important not to do something in the past, but, nevertheless, it was done, should not have, ought not to have are used. For example, if it says: I should not have left the door open, it implies that it was important that someone did not leave the door open, but the door remained open nonetheless.
- I should not have said that. / I shouldn't have said that.
- You should not have given him the money. / I shouldn't have given himmoney.
- They ought not to have told him. / They shouldn't have told him.
- She oughtn't to have sold the ring. / She shouldn't have sold the ring.
Had better
To indicate a moderate need to do something in a particular situation, use had to. At the same time, the modal verb loses to and adds better, forming had better, followed by the verb in the base form. Also, had better can be used to give advice or to express one's point of view on any issue. Although usually the negative particle is placed immediately after had to, the modal verb and not in this case are separated by better. The negative form looks like had better not.
- I think I had better show this to you now. / I think it's best to show you now.
- You'd better go tomorrow. / You'd better go tomorrow.
Although had better resembles the past tense in form, it is never used for moderate necessity in the past. Moreover, the correct form is always had better (it does not say have better).
- I’d better not look at this. / I better not look at this.
Thus, in the range of have values there are many separate semantic units that do not always behave according to the general logic. For example, had to (the modal verb have to in form II) does not always indicate the past tense.
