Have to Has to Had to Exercises: Master English Grammar with Practical Practice Tips

Introduction to "Have to," "Has to," and "Had to"

Understanding how to use "have to," "has to," and "had to" is essential for expressing obligation, necessity, or requirement in English. These phrases are used to indicate that something is necessary or required. Let's break down each form and see how they are used.

1. Present Tense: "Have to" and "Has to"

• "Have to" is used with plural nouns and with the pronouns "I," "you," "we," and "they."

• Examples:

  • I have to finish my homework before dinner.
  • They have to wear uniforms to school.

• "Has to" is used with singular nouns and with the pronouns "he," "she," and "it."

• Examples:

  • He has to attend the meeting at 10 AM.
  • The cat has to stay indoors during the night.

In these examples, "have to" and "has to" convey that the actions are necessary in the present.

2. Past Tense: "Had to"

• "Had to" is the past tense form and is used for all subjects.

• Examples:

  • I had to visit the doctor yesterday.
  • She had to cancel her plans due to the storm.
  • They had to study late into the night for their exams.

Here, "had to" describes actions that were necessary in the past.

3. Forming Negative Sentences

• To form negative sentences, use "do not," "does not," or "did not" before "have to" or "has to."

• Present Tense Examples:

  • I do not have to leave early today.
  • She does not have to attend the meeting.

• Past Tense Example:

  • They did not have to work last Saturday.

In these examples, the use of "do not," "does not," or "did not" removes the obligation.

4. Asking Questions

• When forming questions, invert the subject and the appropriate form of "do."

• Present Tense Examples:

  • Do you have to go to school tomorrow?
  • Does he have to take his medicine now?

• Past Tense Example:

  • Did they have to leave so early?

Questions in these forms ask about the necessity of an action.

By understanding and practicing these structures, you'll improve your ability to communicate necessary actions and obligations in English effectively.

Differences Between "Have to," "Has to," and "Had to"

Understanding how to use "have to," "has to," and "had to" is essential for forming sentences that express necessity or obligation in English. Here’s a breakdown of their differences and how to use them effectively:

"Have to"

• Usage: "Have to" is used to express necessity or obligation in the present tense.
• Subjects: It is used with the pronouns "I," "you," "we," and "they" as well as plural nouns.

Examples: - I have to finish my homework before dinner. - You have to wear a helmet when riding a bike. - We have to leave early to catch the train. - The students have to submit their projects by Friday.

"Has to"

• Usage: "Has to" also indicates necessity or obligation but is used in the present tense with different subjects.
• Subjects: It is specifically for "he," "she," "it," or singular nouns.

Examples: - She has to call her parents every Sunday. - He has to complete the assignment by tomorrow. - The cat has to visit the vet for a check-up. - The teacher has to attend a meeting in the afternoon.

"Had to"

• Usage: "Had to" is used to express necessity or obligation in the past tense for all subjects.

Examples: - I had to work late last night. - You had to study hard for the exams. - They had to cancel the picnic due to the rain. - She had to visit her grandmother when she was sick.

By practicing sentences using "have to," "has to," and "had to," you will become more comfortable with expressing obligations in various tenses while ensuring subject-verb agreement.

Exercises Using "Have to"

Understanding "Have to"

In English, "have to" is used to express necessity or obligation. It's similar to "must," but "have to" is often used to describe an external obligation, such as rules or laws, rather than a personal one. It's important to note that "have to" changes with the subject and tense. Here are some exercises to help you practice using "have to," "has to," and "had to" correctly.

Present Tense: "Have to" and "Has to"

Use "have to" when the subject is I, you, we, or they. Use "has to" when the subject is he, she, or it.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with "have to" or "has to."

1. I ___ finish my homework before I can go to the party.
2. She ___ take her dog for a walk every morning.
3. They ___ leave early to catch the train.
4. He ___ attend the meeting at 2 PM.
5. We ___ pay the bills by the end of the month.

Past Tense: "Had to"

Use "had to" for all subjects when you are talking about necessity or obligation in the past.

Exercise 2: Fill in the blanks with "had to."

1. Last night, we ___ cancel our plans because of the storm.
2. He ___ work late to meet the project deadline.
3. They ___ move out of their apartment when the lease ended.
4. She ___ explain the situation to her manager.
5. I ___ study all weekend for the exam.

Negative Form: "Don't have to" and "Doesn't have to"

When you want to express that something is not necessary, use "don't have to" or "doesn't have to."

Exercise 3: Fill in the blanks with "don't have to" or "doesn't have to."

1. You ___ come to work if you are feeling unwell.
2. He ___ apologize if he doesn’t want to.
3. We ___ attend the optional seminar.
4. She ___ worry about the report; it’s not due until next week.
5. They ___ take the bus; they have a car.

Negative Form in the Past: "Didn't have to"

Use "didn't have to" to show that something was not necessary in the past.

Exercise 4: Fill in the blanks with "didn't have to."

1. She ___ wake up early yesterday because it was a holiday.
2. We ___ cook dinner because we ordered takeout.
3. He ___ pay the fine because it was waived.
4. They ___ stay at the hotel as they found a friend's place.
5. I ___ attend the meeting; it was postponed.

Practicing Contextual Understanding

Now, let's practice choosing the correct form based on context.

Exercise 5: Choose the correct form of "have to," "has to," "had to," "don't have to," "doesn't have to," or "didn't have to" for each sentence.

1. When she was a student, she ___ work two jobs to pay for tuition.
2. You ___ turn in the project today; the deadline was extended.
3. Kids usually ___ go to school on weekdays.
4. I ___ learn how to drive when I moved to the countryside.
5. He ___ be so hard on himself; he's doing a great job.

These exercises should help you become more comfortable using "have to," "has to," and "had to" in various contexts. Remember to think about the subject and the time frame when selecting the correct form.

Exercises Using "Has to"

Understanding how to correctly use "has to" is important in expressing necessity or obligation. The following exercises will help you practice and become more comfortable with this phrase.

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with "has to" or "have to" depending on the subject.

1. She _ finish her homework before dinner.
2. He _ attend the meeting at 3 PM.
3. They _ leave early to catch the train.
4. Tom _ see the doctor today.
5. We _ complete the project by Friday.
6. Jenny _ wear glasses to read the board.
7. The teacher _ prepare the lesson plans in advance.
8. You _ bring your own materials to class.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences by replacing "need" with "has to" or "have to," using the correct form.

1. He needs to study more for the exam.
2. They need to clean the house before the guests arrive.
3. She needs to practice piano every day.
4. We need to submit the report by tomorrow.
5. The dog needs a walk twice a day.
6. I need a new pair of shoes for the party.
7. The company needs to improve its customer service.
8. You need to check your email regularly.

Exercise 3: Make Sentences

Use the words provided to create sentences using "has to" or "have to."

1. She / attend / the seminar
2. They / finish / the assignment / today
3. The cat / go / to the vet / next week
4. We / follow / the rules
5. He / apologize / for his mistake
6. The students / study / for their exams
7. Jane / work late / tonight
8. The manager / make a decision / soon

Exercise 4: Correct the Errors

Each sentence contains a mistake with the use of "has to" or "have to." Rewrite the sentences correctly.

1. She have to be on time for the interview.
2. They has to arrive before noon.
3. John have to buy groceries after work.
4. We has to respect everyone.
5. The mechanic have to fix the car quickly.
6. Sarah have to attend the meeting.
7. I has to call my mom tonight.
8. The children has to do their homework.

Exercise 5: Answer the Questions

Answer the questions by using a complete sentence with "has to" or "have to."

1. What does she have to do before the trip?
2. Where does he have to be tomorrow morning?
3. Who has to take care of the pets while you're away?
4. Why do they have to leave early?
5. When do you have to submit your assignment?
6. How often does the team have to practice?
7. Which document does she have to sign?
8. What kind of training does he have to complete?

Exercises Using "Had to"

Understanding how to use "had to" in English is essential for describing past necessities or obligations. Here are some exercises to help you practice using "had to" effectively:

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct form of "had to."

1. Yesterday, I ____ (go) to the dentist because of a toothache.
2. When we were kids, we ____ (finish) our homework before going outside to play.
3. Last week, she ____ (cancel) her trip due to bad weather.
4. He ____ (apologize) for being late to the meeting.
5. They ____ (move) to a new house because their family was growing.

Exercise 2: Transform the Sentences

Rewrite the sentences, changing the word "have to" to "had to" and adjusting the rest of the sentence to fit grammatically.

1. We have to finish the project by next Monday.
2. We ____ finish the project by last Monday.
3. She has to wear glasses while reading.
4. She ____ wear glasses while reading when she was younger.
5. I have to get up early every morning.
6. I ____ get up early when I worked in the factory.
7. They have to study hard for their exams.
8. They ____ study hard for their exams last semester.

Exercise 3: Create Sentences

Write complete sentences using "had to" based on the prompts provided.

1. (a broken car / take the bus)
2. Because his car was broken, he ____.
3. (no milk / go to the store)
4. There was no milk at home, so I ____.
5. (feeling sick / cancel plans)
6. She was feeling sick yesterday, so she ____.
7. (job opportunity / relocate)
8. He ____ due to a new job opportunity.

Exercise 4: Correct the Mistakes

Identify and correct the mistakes in the use of "had to" in the following sentences.

1. She has to called her friend last night because she forgot something.
2. Correction: She ____ her friend last night because she had forgotten something.
3. They had to going to the office yesterday even though it was a holiday.
4. Correction: They ____ to the office yesterday even though it was a holiday.
5. He had went early to secure a seat for the concert.
6. Correction: He ____ early to secure a seat for the concert.

These exercises will help reinforce your understanding of "had to" for describing past obligations or necessary actions. Practice regularly to build confidence and fluency.