Grammar

Do you know when to use “have to” and “don’t have to”? Watch a short explanation and repeat the example sentences after me.

When we talk about rules or obligations and we want to say that someting is necessary, we use "have to". For example: “You have to wear a helmet.” means it is necessary to wear a helmet. Here is how "have to" works for different persons. For I, you, we, you, they, we use "have to". For example: "I have to pay a deposit" or "We have to pay a deposit". For he, she and it, we use "has to". For example: "He has to wear a helmet" or "She has to return the bike by six o'clock".

You have to wear a helmet

He has to wear a helmet

___ ____ __ ____ _ ______

__ ___ __ ____ _ ______

Tienes que usar un casco

Él tiene que usar un casco

When we want to say that something is not necessary, we use “don’t have to”. For example: "You don't have to wear a helmet" means it is not necessary to wear a helmet. For I, you, we, you, they, we use "don't have to". For example: "I don't have to pay a deposit" or "They don't have to wear a helmet". For he, she and it, we use "doesn't have to", for example: "She doesn't have to return the bike by six o'clock."

I don't have to wear a helmet

He doesn't have to wear a helmet

_ _____ ____ __ ____ _ ______

__ _______ ____ __ ____ _ ______

No tengo que usar un casco

Él no tiene que usar un casco

In questions with "have to", we add "Do" and "Does" at the beginning. For I, you, we, you, and they, we use "Do", and for he, she and it we use "Does". For example: "Do I have to pay a deposit?", "Does he have to pay a deposit?" In short positive answers, we use "do" or "does". For example: "Do I have to wear a helmet?". "Yes, I do". "Does he have to pay a deposit?" "Yes, he does". In short negative answers, we use "don't" and "doesn't".

Do I have to wear a helmet?

Does he have to wear a helmet?

__ _ ____ __ ____ _ ______?

____ __ ____ __ ____ _ ______?

¿Tengo que usar un casco?

¿Él tiene que usar un casco?