Expressing necessity with the verb 'To have': How and When to Use in English

Quick and simple lesson to help you understand grammar better.
Test your English and learn even more with Gymglish.

TEST YOUR ENGLISH Free trial and no commitment to buy
4,7 on App Store, Play Store and Trustpilot More than 8 million learners worldwide

Expressing necessity with the verb 'To have'

Followed by the infinitive, to have expresses necessity:
I have to work. I must work, I need to work.
The interrogative form is made using the auxiliary do/does/did:
He doesn't have to wear a suit. It's not necessary for him to wear a suit.
Does she have to read all this? Is it necessary for her to read all this?
To emphasize the idea of necessity, got can sometimes be added:
You've got to watch this movie! You really must watch this movie!
Exercise 1
Bob: Do I really to do this all by myself?
Kevin: Yes, I think you .
Bob: But I'm so scared.
Kevin: Pull it together, man. It's just the dentist.
Bob: Do I really have 1 to do this all by myself?
Kevin: Yes, I think you do 2.
Bob: But I'm so scared.
Kevin: Pull it together, man. It's just the dentist.
1 have: We use 'have' to express the necessity of Bob's going to the dentist. It is the best choice here.
1 must: We cannot use 'must' followed by the infinitive form of the verb 'to do'. However, we could say: 'Must I do this'.
1 do: We cannot use 'do' followed by the infinitive form of the verb 'to do'.
2 do: 'Do' is the best choice here. This is a contracted response to Bob's question. Kevin is saying: 'Yes, you do (have to go to the dentist)'.
2 have: This construction is grammatically incorrect. However, we could say: 'Yes, you have to'.
2 are: Although it is grammatically correct, 'I think you are' does not make sense following Bob's question, 'Do I really have to do this?'.
Exercise 2
Luna: Hello Mr. Horatio. What you doing?
Horatio: Well, Miss DeLune, I to mix these two chemicals together, so I can create beautiful smells.
Luna: That sounds fun.
Horatio: Yes. Do you any whiskey?
Luna: I have some herbal tea.
Horatio: Please leave me now.
Luna: Hello Mr. Horatio. What are 1 you doing?
Horatio: Well, Miss DeLune, I have 2 to mix these two chemicals together, so I can create beautiful smells.
Luna: That sounds fun.
Horatio: Yes. Do you have 3 any whiskey?
Luna: I have some herbal tea.
Horatio: Please leave me now.
1 are: 'Are' is the best choice here. This is the correct construction for this question. Luna is asking Horatio what he is occupied with at the moment.
1 have: 'Have' does not make sense here. It cannot be used with 'doing' in this construction. We could say, however: 'What have you been doing?'.
1 do: 'Do' does not make sense here. It does not agree with 'doing' in this construction. We could say, however: 'What do you do after work?'.
2 have: We use 'have' to express Horatio's obligation to complete his current task: mixing some chemicals together.
2 do: 'Do' is grammatically incorrect here. We cannot use 'do' to express Horatio's obligation to complete an action.
2 go: 'Go' is grammatically incorrect here. 'I go' is in the simple present tense, and we can't use this tense to refer to an action in the near future. We could say: 'I am going to mix these two chemicals together'.
3 have: We use 'have' here to ask the question if Luna possesses whiskey.
3 are: 'Are' is grammatically incorrect in this case. One cannot 'be' whiskey. At least, not in this lifetime.
3 do: 'Do' does not make sense here, because one cannot 'do' whiskey.
Exercise 3
Philip: You got to try out this new mattress I bought.
Polly: Sorry. Not interested, even if you are 'the' Philip Cheeter.
Philip: How about we at my place around nine o'clock?
Polly: you no shame?
Philip: Fine, fine. Nine-thirty.
Philip: You have 1 got to try out this new mattress I bought.
Polly: Sorry. Not interested, even if you are 'the' Philip Cheeter.
Philip: How about we meet 2 at my place around nine o'clock?
Polly: Have 3 you no shame?
Philip: Fine, fine. Nine-thirty.
1 have: We often use the expression 'have got' to express necessity in a way similar to 'must'. In this example, 'have got' serves to strengthen the idea of the necessity.
1 are: 'Are' is grammatically incorrect in this case.
1 be: 'Be' is grammatically incorrect in this case.
2 meet: 'Meet' is the best choice here. Philip is asking Polly if she will 'meet' him after work to try out the mattress.
2 be: 'Be' does not make sense here.
2 have: 'Have' does not make sense here. If it is not followed by the preposition 'to', 'have' expresses possession, in this case.
3 Have: 'Have' is used as a verb of possession in this case. Polly is asking if Philip 'has' any shame. This is the best choice here. The question 'have you no shame?' is Polly's articulate way of pointing out Philip's arrogance and presumption.
3 Are: Because Philip cannot 'be' shame, 'are' does not make sense here.
3 Do: Because Philip cannot 'do' shame, 'do' does not make sense here.
Exercise 4
Fill in the blanks below with the appropriate phrase.

Theater Attendant: Sir, I'm going you and your friends to leave.
Penguin King: But I am king of the penguins, and this is my faithful entourage.
Theater Attendant: I don't care if you're the king of France. You've been causing trouble since you got here. We've already had several complaints about cigar smoke, loud hooting and throwing popcorn.
Penguin King: But I have diplomatic immunity! And my fur makes it look like I'm wearing a tuxedo. Does that not impress you?
Theater Attendant: Look, pal. What's it going to be? Are you going to leave? Or do I you ?
Penguin King: Ha ha ha! You do not scare me. I laugh at your threats. Ha ha!
Theater Attendant: Fine... Ok, Laura, send down the polar bear!
Fill in the blanks below with the appropriate phrase.

Theater Attendant: Sir, I'm going to have to ask 1 you and your friends to leave.
Penguin King: But I am king of the penguins, and this is my faithful entourage.
Theater Attendant: I don't care if you're the king of France. You've been causing trouble since you got here. We've already had several complaints about cigar smoke, loud hooting and throwing popcorn.
Penguin King: But I have diplomatic immunity! And my fur makes it look like I'm wearing a tuxedo. Does that not impress you?
Theater Attendant: Look, pal. What's it going to be? Are you going to leave? Or do I have to make 2 you leave 3?
Penguin King: Ha ha ha! You do not scare me. I laugh at your threats. Ha ha!
Theater Attendant: Fine... Ok, Laura, send down the polar bear!
1 to have to ask: This sentence uses several interesting constructions together: the future tense construction 'be going to', which expresses the idea of action in the near or immediate future (I am going to have to ask you). When this construction is used, 'going' must be followed by a verb in the full infinitive form (to have). Then, the construction 'to have to do something' expresses necessity or obligation of Theater Attendant to ask the Penguin King to leave. The 'have to do something' construction is also ALWAYS followed by a verb in the full infinitive form (to ask).
1 have to ask: 'Going' must be followed by a verb in the full infinitive form (to ask) in order to be grammatically correct. 'I'm going have ask' is grammatically incorrect.
1 to have ask: The 'have to do something' construction is ALWAYS followed by a verb in the full infinitive form (to ask). 'I'm going to have ask' is grammatically incorrect.
1 have ask: When using the future tense construction 'be going to', which expresses the idea of action in the near or immediate future, 'going' must be followed by a verb in the full infinitive form (to have). 'I'm going have ask' is grammatically incorrect.
2 have to make: This is the best choice here. 'Have to make you leave' expresses the Theater Attendant's obligation to use force to remove the delinquent Penguin King.
2 to have to make: Because there is no other main verb in this sentence, 'have' cannot be in the infinitive form. The verb 'to have' must be conjugated in the first person present tense form.
2 to have make: Because there is no other main verb in this sentence, 'have' cannot be in the infinitive form. The verb 'to have' must be conjugated in the first person present tense form.
2 have make: 'Make' must be in the infinitive form in order to express the necessity of the action here.
3 leave: This is the best choice here. 'To make you leave' expresses the act of forcing the Penguin King to depart.
3 to leave: We cannot use 'to leave' because of the form of the expression 'make you leave'. When using the expression 'to make someone do something' the second verb does not take the infinitive marker 'to'.
3 leaving: 'Leaving' expresses a continuous action, while the context refers to an action which has not yet happened.
3 left: 'Left' does not make sense here. It expresses a past action, while the context refers to an action that has not yet happened.
Exercise 5
Polly: I'm really sorry, Icarus, but I get going.
Icarus: But we not yet addressed my problem.
Polly: Quickly, Icarus.
Icarus: It's just that, err, I was hoping that, uhh, we could, you know, maybe, uhh -
Polly: Icarus, I'm leaving.
Polly: I'm really sorry, Icarus, but I have to 1 get going.
Icarus: But we have 2 not yet addressed my problem.
Polly: Quickly, Icarus.
Icarus: It's just that, err, I was hoping that, uhh, we could, you know, maybe, uhh -
Polly: Icarus, I'm leaving.
1 have to: This is the best choice here. Polly says she 'has to' leave to express the necessity of her imminent departure.
1 have: We cannot use 'have' without the infinitive marker 'to' in this case.
1 am having: We cannot use the present continuous form of the verb 'am having' to express necessity.
1 had to: Because Polly is speaking about the present, we cannot use the past tense verb form 'had' in this case.
2 have: We use 'have' as an auxiliary here which precedes the past participle 'addressed'. Icarus is using the present perfect verb form 'have addressed'.
2 to have: We cannot directly follow the subject of the sentence (we) with the infinitive form of the verb (to have).
2 has: 'Has' is not the correct conjugation of 'to have' in the first-person plural in the present tense.
2 are having: We cannot use the present continuous form of the verb (are having) in this case. The negation 'not' is used between the auxiliary and the conjugated verb (are not having). Also, we almost never use the present continuous with the adverb 'yet'.

Still facing difficulties with 'Expressing necessity with the verb 'To have''? Improve your English with Gymglish's English lessons - try our online English course for free now and receive a free level assessment!

What our users say:

Pleasure

         

I enjoy doing my online English lessons. Only ten minutes daily are enough...Thank you!

Innovative

         

I love your innovative method which allows me to learn a new language and have fun at the same time!

Unique

         

Your method is unique! Your courses have helped me to progress and gain confidence during my travels.

Progress

         

Gymglish has allowed me to improve my English. A daily routine I wouldn't miss for anything in the world!

More testimonials.

Find out about other grammar rules. Improve your English further and test Gymglish, online English lessons.

Tips for learning 'Expressing necessity with the verb 'To have''? Share them with us!

TEST YOUR ENGLISH