Improve your English today at ANGLOPOD.COM. Hi everyone, I’m Dan and today we’re going to look at the difference between the modal verbs HAVE TO and DON’T HAVE TO. We use them to say if something is important or not. Let’s find out more…

Here’s an example. If you arrange a party and it’s very important that people come to the party on time, you can say “You HAVE TO come on time” or “You MUST come on time”. That is very clear. It is very important, it is necessary that everyone comes to the party on time. Maybe it’s a surprise party, so the guests need to arrive first and hide!

But you can also express that something is not important, not necessary. You can say “You DON’T HAVE TO come on time”, “You DON’T HAVE TO come on time”. Basically, this means that it’s your choice. If you come on time, that’s fine. But if you come later, that’s also fine. It’s your choice. This sounds like a much more relaxed party!

You could also say “You DON’T NEED TO come on time”, “You DON’T NEED TO come on time”. It means exactly the same thing as DON’T HAVE TO.

Can you think of other examples of things that are your choice? Not important or not necessary? “I DON’T HAVE TO wear a suit to work” or “I DON’T NEED TO wake up early on Sunday”. Go to ANGLOPOD.COM and write your examples in the comments. See you soon!

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