Hey guys, welcome back to another episode from mksenglish.com.
I'm Mark, and today we're going to talk about something very important and well, maybe a little annoying too.
Rules.
More specifically, we're going to learn have to and don't have to.
So what does have to mean?
Well, have to means something is necessary.
It's a rule, something important.
Let's look at some examples, all right?
Listen and repeat.
I have to go to work.
Number two, I have to wake up early.
Students have to study.
Students have to study.
So, when you say have to, it means you must do it.
You don't have a choice.
Sorry.
Next, what does don't have to mean?
Now, this is very important.
Don't have to means that something is not necessary.
Again, listen and repeat.
I don't have to work today.
Sounds pretty nice.
But one more time.
I don't have to work today.
Lucky, lucky.
All right.
Number two.
You don't have to come.
You don't have to come.
And number three, we don't have to hurry.
We don't have to hurry.
This means it's okay if you don't do it.
Don't worry, but be careful.
Don't have to is not the same as must not, okay?
Must not means it's not allowed.
Don't have to means it's okay, it's your choice.
And this is a really common problem that I hear a lot of my students make.
So once again, be careful, okay?
All right, story time.
Let me tell you a short story, okay?
By the way, this is not a true story, okay?
But I just want you to listen to how we use this in English.
I wake up at seven o'clock every day.
I have to go to work.
At work, I have to answer emails.
I have to talk to people.
But today is Sunday.
So I don't have to work.
I don't have to wake up early.
I don't have to do anything.
Now, in that story, you may have noticed that I don't really say have to.
No, I say have to.
One more time, let me slow that down.
I say have to, like one word.
Native speakers often combine those two words, have to, into one word.
It's shorter.
It's faster.
It gets the point across much easier.
Hafta.
Hafta.
Quick tip.
Maybe you can go back and shadow that story that I just read and try to work on your pronunciation.
Remember, hafta.
But even if you don't want to, we're going to work a little bit on listen and repeat anyway.
Okay?
Repeat after me.
I have to wake up early.
I have to wake up early.
Next.
I don't have to go today.
I don't have to go today.
Next.
I have to study English.
I have to study English.
Good last one.
I don't have to hurry.
I don't have to hurry.
Bravo, bravo.
Now, I want you to think about your life.
Say these sentences out loud.
I have to hmm every day.
For me, I have to cook every day.
How about you?
What do you have to do every day?
Next, I don't have to on weekends.
For me, I don't have to ride a train on weekends.
How about you?
Take a moment.
Say it now.
Well, unless you're on a train, you might look a little weird.
Okay, quick tip.
Remember, have to equals necessary.
Don't have to equals not necessary.
Simple, right?
But powerful.
All right, that's it for today.
Now you know what to do.
Practice.
And remember, you don't have to be perfect.
Just keep going.
And if you're interested, why not hit me up for a free trial lesson at mksenglish.com?
Thanks for listening.
I'll see you next time.
Bye.