have to
have to means “have to + verb: something is necessary; don't have to = not necessary”. Have to says something is necessary, often because of rules or circumstances: I have to get up early tomorrow. Formation: have/has to + V · don't have to = not necessary
have to + verb: something is necessary; don't have to = not necessary
A2Formation
have/has to + V · don't have to = not necessary
Explanation
Have to says something is necessary, often because of rules or circumstances: I have to get up early tomorrow. She has to work on Saturdays. The negative means it is NOT necessary: You don't have to pay now (= you can, but it is not needed). Question: Do I have to ...?
Examples
Note
don't have to (not necessary) is very different from must not (forbidden) — see must. With he/she/it: has to; past: had to.
FAQ
have to — what does it mean and how is it used?
have to + verb: something is necessary; don't have to = not necessary. Have to says something is necessary, often because of rules or circumstances: I have to get up early tomorrow. She has to work on Saturdays. The negative means it is NOT necessary: You don't have to pay now (= you can, but it is not needed). Question: Do I have to ...?
have to — how do you form it?
have/has to + V · don't have to = not necessary
have to — any usage notes?
don't have to (not necessary) is very different from must not (forbidden) — see must. With he/she/it: has to; past: had to.