8.3 Obligation/Necessity—Must and Phrasal Modals

MUST PHRASAL MODAL EXPLANATION

The landlord must provide smoke detectors. The landlord has to provide smoke detectors. We use must and have to for rules and obligations. Must is more formal than have to.

I’ve got to call my landlord today. I have to tell him about a problem in my bathroom. At the end of my lease last June, I had to move. I had to find a bigger apartment. We use have to or have got to for personal obligations or necessities.

Must has no past form. The past of both must and have to is had to.

Notes: 1. Have got to is usually contracted with a subject pronoun. I have got to = I’ve got to He has got to = He’s got to 2. We don’t use have got to for questions or negatives. 3. Many legal documents use shall for obligation. If the security deposit does not cover the cost to repair any damages, the tenant shall pay the additional costs to the owner.

Pronunciation Note: In informal speech, have to is often pronounced “hafta.” Has to is often pronounced “hasta.” Got to is often pronounced “gotta.” In informal speech and writing, people often say or write “gotta.” (I gotta go now.)

EXERCISE 4 Fill in the blanks with one of the items from the box. Use the correct form of have.

have to notify have to move must put must give

have got to obey have to sign have to return have got to clean

1. The landlord must give you heat in cold weather.

2. You the lease with a pen. A pencil is not acceptable.

3. The landlord

4. The landlord

5. The landlord

6. I your security deposit if you leave your apartment in good condition.

you if he wants you to leave at the end of your lease.

a smoke detector in each apartment and in the hallways.

the rules of the lease.

7. My new apartment is dirty. I

8. My old apartment was too expensive, so I it before I move in.

last month.