Átomo 42

must vs have to: obligacion interna y externa

La regla

must = obligacion interna o fuerte; have to = obligacion externa o regla.

"must = inner or strong obligation; have to = external rule or obligation."

"must" expresa una obligacion que sale del hablante o es muy fuerte: "I must finish this report today". "have to" expresa una obligacion externa, una regla impuesta: "I have to wear a badge at the office". En pasado SOLO existe "had to" (no existe "musted"). En negativa cambian totalmente de significado: "mustn't" = prohibicion ("You mustn't share your password"), "don't have to" = no es necesario ("You don't have to come on Friday").

Ejemplos

I must finish this task today.

Debo terminar está tarea hoy.

💡 Obligacion personal.

I have to wear a badge at the office.

Tengo que llevar la tarjeta en la oficina.

💡 Regla de la empresa.

You mustn't share your Nexora password.

No debes compartir tu contrasena de Nexora.

💡 Prohibicion.

You don't have to come on bank holidays.

No tienes que venir en festivos.

💡 No es necesario.

She had to attend the meeting yesterday.

Tuvo que asistir a la reunion ayer.

We have to submit timesheets every Friday.

Tenemos que entregar las horas cada viernes.

I must call Elena before lunch.

Debo llamar a Elena antes de comer.

Casos típicos

Obligacion interna o conviccion personalmust

I must study English.We must be honest.

Obligacion externa, regla, leyhave to / has to

I have to wear a badge.She has to clock in.

Pasado de ambos: had tohad to

I had to work late.She had to take a taxi.

Negativa: mustn't = prohibicionmustn't

You mustn't smoke here.You mustn't be late.

Negativa: don't have to = no es necesariodon't / doesn't have to

You don't have to wear a tie.She doesn't have to come.

Trampas hispanohablantes

I musted go to the office.I had to go to the office.

must no tiene pasado. En pasado se usa had to.

You mustn't come on Saturday (queriendo decir: no es necesario).You don't have to come on Saturday.

mustn't = prohibido. don't have to = no necesario. NO son lo mismo.

She must to finish the report.She must finish the report.

must NO lleva "to" delante del verbo.

I have finish this today.I have to finish this today.

have to siempre lleva "to" antes del verbo.

Mini-quiz

1/6.Elige la frase correcta para una regla de la empresa:

2/6.Pasado de "must":

Yesterday I work late.

3/6."You mustn't share your password" significa:

4/6."You don't have to come on Friday" significa:

5/6.Completa con la forma correcta de have to (presente, she):

She submit her timesheet today.

6/6.Obligacion personal fuerte:

I really call my mother today.