Explanation

We use have to / has to to talk about obligations (things that are necessary).

• I have to study for the test. (= It is necessary.)

• She has to work on Saturday. (= It is required.)

We use don’t have to / doesn’t have to to talk about no obligation (something is optional).

• You don’t have to come to the meeting. (= It’s OK if you don’t come.)

• He doesn’t have to wear a tie to work. (= Optional, not required.)

⚠️ Important:

• Must not (mustn’t) = forbidden.

• Don’t have to = optional.

Examples:

• You mustn’t smoke here. (= It is not allowed.)

• You don’t have to smoke. (= It’s optional, but not required.)

Exercise 1 – Sentence Practice

1. We have to do our homework.

2. I don’t have to wake up early tomorrow.

3. She has to call her boss.

4. They don’t have to wear uniforms at school.

5. He has to finish the report by Friday.

6. We don’t have to pay for the tickets.

Exercise 2 – Dialogue Practice

At Home

• Emma: Do I have to cook tonight?

• David: No, you don’t have to cook tonight. I’ll do it.

At School

• Teacher: You have to bring your books tomorrow.

• Student: Do we have to bring all of them?

• Teacher: No, you don’t have to bring the dictionaries.

At the Office

• Tom: Do we have to work on Saturday?

• Boss: Yes, we have to finish the project.

• Tom: Oh no! Do we have to stay late too?

• Boss: No, you don’t have to stay late.

Exercise 3 – Rephrasing Sentences

Rewrite using have to or don’t have to.

1. You must sleep more.

2. You do not need to sleep more.

3. They must be quiet.

4. They do not need to be quiet.

5. I can do my job without learning English.

6. We need to learn English for our job.

7. I am required to wear formal clothing to work.

8. I am allowed to not wear formal clothing to work.

Exercise 4 – Sentence Building

Make sentences with have to or don’t have to.

• have a dog

• have a cat

• live with my family

• live in an exciting city

• live in the countryside

• live in a big house

• exercise

• read books

• watch movies

• travel

• cook

Example: I have to cook every day. / I don’t have to cook on weekends.

Exercise 5 – Error Correction

Correct the mistakes.

1. He don’t has to study today.

2. You mustn’t to wake up early tomorrow.

3. She have to goes shopping.

4. We doesn’t have to wear a uniform.

5. They has to finish their homework.

Answer Key

Exercise 3

1. You have to sleep more.

2. You don’t have to sleep more.

3. They have to be quiet.

4. They don’t have to be quiet.

5. I don’t have to learn English for my job.

6. We have to learn English for our job.

7. I have to wear formal clothing to work.

8. I don’t have to wear formal clothing to work.

Exercise 4 (sample answers)

• I don’t have to have a dog.

• She has to have a cat.

• I have to live with my family.

• They don’t have to live in an exciting city.

• We don’t have to live in the countryside.

• He has to live in a big house.

• I have to exercise three times a week.

• You don’t have to read books if you don’t want to.

• We don’t have to watch movies every weekend.

• They have to travel for work.

• She doesn’t have to cook on Sundays.

Exercise 5

1. ❌ He don’t has to study today. → ✅ He doesn’t have to study today.

2. ❌ You mustn’t to wake up early tomorrow. → ✅ You don’t have to wake up early tomorrow.

3. ❌ She have to goes shopping. → ✅ She has to go shopping.

4. ❌ We doesn’t have to wear a uniform. → ✅ We don’t have to wear a uniform.

5. ❌ They has to finish their homework. → ✅ They have to finish their homework.