Practice
English practice: can, must, and have to
Sign in to saveYou can borrow my pen. You must wear a helmet on this site. We have to catch the last bus. The words all come before a verb, but each one tells the listener something different.
Choose can, must, or have to by deciding whether the sentence describes ability, permission, a strong rule, or a necessary action.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
You can leave at five, but you must lock the door. /juː kən liːv æt faɪv, bət juː mʌst lɒk ðə dɔː/
The short answer
Can shows ability or gives permission. Must gives a strong instruction or obligation. Have to says that an action is necessary because of a rule or situation.
You can sit here, but you must keep the doorway clear.
Why it works: Can gives permission to sit. Must states a rule about the doorway.
5 more examples
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Maya can repair a bicycle chain.
Can shows that Maya has the ability to do this task.
Not this:Maya
has to repairthe bicycle before work. What changes: Has to says that repairing it is necessary in this situation. -
You can leave your coat in the locker.
The speaker gives permission to leave the coat there.
Not this:You
must leavewet coats in the locker. What changes: Must turns the instruction into a strong rule. -
Passengers must show their tickets before boarding.
The sentence gives a rule for passengers.
Not this:Passengers
have to arrivebefore the gate closes. What changes: The closing gate creates a practical requirement. -
I have to collect my parcel before the shop closes.
The shop's closing time makes the collection necessary.
Not this:I
can collectmy parcel on Friday. What changes: Can says that Friday is possible or allowed, not required. -
You must not touch the emergency button.
Must not says that touching the button is prohibited.
Not this:You
do not have to touchthe emergency button. What changes: Do not have to says there is no need to touch it.
Read the full guide
Start with the reason for the action. If someone is able to do it or allowed to do it, can is usually the right word. If a notice or speaker gives a strong instruction, use must. If a timetable, workplace rule, or situation requires the action, have to often fits well.
Choose the meaning before the word
Can, must, and have to all come before another verb, but they do different jobs. First ask whether the person is able to do something, allowed to do it, told to do it, or required to do it by a situation. That decision will guide your choice.
I can stay until six.
This says that staying until six is possible for the speaker.
Your manager says that every visitor needs a badge. Which word shows a strong requirement?
Use must: Visitors must wear a badge. The sentence gives a clear rule.
Use can for ability and permission
Use can when someone has the ability to do something. It also works when a person gives permission. The rest of the sentence tells you which meaning is intended. A skill points to ability; an instruction from a person points to permission.
Leo can read a map without his phone.
Reading a map is an ability that Leo has.
You can use the meeting room after three.
The speaker allows the listener to use the room.
Complete the sentence about a skill: 'My sister ____ speak three languages.'
Use can: My sister can speak three languages. It describes her ability.
Use must for a strong rule or instruction
Use must when the speaker gives a strong instruction or states an important rule. You may see must on signs, in safety rules, and in instructions. It can also express a strong personal need, such as I must call my mother tonight.
Cyclists must stop at the red light.
The traffic rule is not optional, so must is a natural choice.
Please be quiet. You must not wake the baby.
Must not forbids the action of waking the baby.
Which form fits a safety instruction: can wear gloves or must wear gloves?
Use must wear gloves when the gloves are required for safety.
Use have to for a necessary action
Use have to when a rule, schedule, or situation makes an action necessary. The obligation often comes from outside the speaker. Change the form to match the subject: I have to, she has to, and they have to.
We have to change trains at Central Station.
The train route creates the need to change trains.
Rina has to take her ID to the appointment.
The appointment requirements make the ID necessary.
Choose the correct form for one person: 'Omar ____ finish the form today.'
Use has to finish. Has agrees with the singular subject Omar.
Keep the negative meanings separate
Must not and do not have to have very different meanings. Must not says that something is forbidden. Do not have to says that it is not necessary. Read the sentence for its practical message before you choose a negative form.
You must not park beside the fire exit.
Parking there is not allowed.
You do not have to reserve a seat.
Reserving a seat is optional; the sentence does not forbid it.
Which phrase says that a form is optional: must not complete it or do not have to complete it?
Use do not have to complete it. The form is not required.
Ask about rules and talk about the past
Use Do I have to ...? when you ask whether something is necessary. It is a common question in daily life. For a past obligation, use had to. Can and must do not use had to in the same way: had to specifically reports a past requirement.
Do I have to book the room in advance?
The speaker asks whether booking is required.
We had to leave before the shop closed.
Had to describes a requirement in the past.
How do you ask whether a uniform is required?
Ask, 'Do I have to wear a uniform?' This asks about a necessary action.
Before you go
Remember this
Use can for ability or permission. Use must for a strong rule or instruction. Use have to when an action is necessary because of a rule or situation. Check the negative carefully: must not means prohibited, while do not have to means unnecessary.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "English practice: can, must, and have to"
What is the difference between can, must, and have to?
Can usually shows ability or permission. Must gives a strong instruction or obligation. Have to says that an action is necessary, often because of a rule, schedule, or situation. For example, You can sit here gives permission, while You must keep the doorway clear gives a rule.
Maya can repair a bicycle chain.
Can I use can to ask for permission?
Yes. Can is common in everyday requests and permissions. You can ask, Can I use this chair? and another person can answer, Yes, you can. In this use, can asks or gives permission rather than describing physical ability.
Maya has to repair the bicycle before work.
When should I use must instead of have to?
Use must when you want to give a strong instruction or state a rule directly. Use have to when a policy, timetable, or situation makes the action necessary. Both can express obligation, but have to is often more common in everyday explanations of requirements.
You can leave your coat in the locker.
What is the difference between must not and do not have to?
Must not means that an action is prohibited. You must not touch the emergency button means touching it is not allowed. Do not have to means there is no need to act. You do not have to reserve a seat means reserving one is optional.
You must leave wet coats in the locker.
How do I talk about an obligation in the past?
Use had to for a past requirement. We had to leave before the shop closed describes something that was necessary at that time. Change have to to had to for all subjects when you speak about a past obligation.
Passengers must show their tickets before boarding.