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ESL forum > Ask for help > must or have to    

must or have to



Belanaana
Argentina

must or have to
 
Hello! 
What do you say? You must save water. or You have to save water. ( there �s a sign with the words : Save Water!! 
Thanks!!

31 Oct 2014      





cunliffe
United Kingdom

I think both are fine. If someone is telling you this info, giving you the instruction, they might say, �You must save water! �. However, if you read this and interpret it and relay it to someone else, you would say, �You have to save water. � Or �We should save water. � Or �We are supposed to save water. � 

1 Nov 2014     



ELOJOLIE274
France

You have to save water = the underlying meaning is that it �s the law or that someone else is telling you to do it
You must save water = the obligation comes from you, you are telling yourself that it �s important and you know that it �s important (no one is imposing anything on you)

I must do my homework (= i know it �s important if i want to improve my grades etc...)
I have to do my homework (=my teacher/parents will punish me if I don �t, but i don �t really know why it �s important that I do it, i just do it because i was told to do it...

http://www.englishgrammarsecrets.com/musthaveto/menu.php

but both sentences are fine :)


1 Nov 2014     



Belanaana
Argentina

Thanks, a lot!!!

2 Nov 2014