Expressions of Necessity (Ungkapan Keharusan)

Necessity: must, have to, have got to, need

The word "necessity" is a general term used for describing the main meaning of the modal verb MUST and its substitutes HAVE TO, HAVE GOT TO, NEED. The modal verb MUST expresses strong necessity to do something, with such shades of meaning as necessity, obligation, duty, responsibility, requirement. The phrase HAVE TO is the most common substitute for MUST in the meaning "necessity".

Modal verb MUST

The modal verb MUST in the meaning "strong necessity" forms only the present tense. The future is expressed by the present tense with the help of the context and adverbs or adverbial phrases indicating the future time, for example, "tomorrow, soon, next week, in an hour".

I must talk to him immediately.

She must obey the rules.

If he wants to go to England, he must obtain a visa first.

He must pay the bills today.

People must eat to live.

This patient must stay in bed for at least two weeks.

I must help him with his report.

You must see this film. It's very good.

MUST in the meaning "strong necessity" does not have the past form. The substitute phrase HAD TO (necessity) is typically used instead of MUST in the past tense, with a little change in meaning.

Natasha must go to the bank today. (strong necessity)

She has to go to the bank today. (necessity)

Victor had to go to the bank yesterday. (necessity, with the following meaning: It was necessary for him to go to the bank yesterday, and he went there.)

Modal verb MUST and its substitute HAVE TO

MUST is stronger, stricter, and more categorical than HAVE TO. MUST implies that the action expressed by the infinitive is absolutely necessary. HAVE TO in the meaning "necessity" is used in affirmative statements and questions in the present, past, and future. Negative questions with HAVE TO are also possible in this meaning.

The verb HAVE TO is used in both formal and informal English in speech and writing, and many native speakers use HAVE TO instead of MUST in many cases, especially in American English.

He must write a report. (strong necessity)

He has to write a report. (necessity)

He must finish his report tomorrow. (strong necessity)

He has to finish it tomorrow. (necessity)

He will have to finish his report tomorrow. (necessity)

He had to rewrite several pages of the report yesterday.

Does he have to write his report today? – Yes, he does.

Doesn't he have to finish his report today? – No, he doesn't.

Will he have to finish his report tomorrow? – Yes, he will.

Didn't he have to rewrite several pages yesterday? – Yes, he did.

In some cases the difference between MUST and HAVE TO is bigger than "strong necessity" versus "necessity". MUST shows that the speaker thinks that the action specified by the main verb is necessary to do, and it's the right thing to do (i.e., the speaker expresses personal opinion), while HAVE TO just states the fact that this action is necessary. Compare these sentences:

Children must go to school. (It's obligatory, and it's the right thing to do.)

Children have to go to school. (It's obligatory.)

I must help him. (It's necessary, and it's the right thing to do.)

I have to help him. (It's necessary.)

You must read this article. It is very interesting.

You have to read this article. We are going to discuss it in class.

Note: MUST and SHOULD

The modal verb SHOULD can be used instead of MUST if the speaker wants to sound less categorical.

You must do it today. (strong necessity, obligation)

You should do it today. (advice, recommendation)

You must tell the boss about it. (strong necessity, obligation)

You should tell the boss about it. (advice, recommendation)

Substitute phrase HAVE GOT TO

The substitute phrase HAVE GOT TO is used mostly in conversational English. HAVE GOT TO has only the present tense form and expresses necessity to do something in the present and future, mostly in affirmative statements, though negative questions are also possible. HAVE TO is often used instead of HAVE GOT TO in questions.

I've got to go.

I've got to see her immediately.

He's got to exercise more. He's putting on weight.

Haven't you got to finish your report today? – Yes, I have. No, I haven't. / Don't you have to finish your report today? – Yes, I do. No, I don't.

The phrase HAVE GOT TO does not have the past form, so HAD TO is typically used instead of it in the past.

The verb NEED

The verb NEED is frequently used with a noun object after it: I need help; we need bread and cheese; he needs money. With an infinitive, NEED expresses necessity to do something and can be used as a less categorical substitute for MUST.

I need to see you.

He needs to exercise more.

Do we need to buy bread and cheese? – Yes, we do. No, we don't.

Absence of necessity

Absence of necessity is usually expressed by HAVE TO in the negative.

I don't have to go to work today. It is Saturday.

She doesn't have to go to the store. The refrigerator is full of food.

You don't have to give me an answer now. Talk it over with your family first.

He doesn't have to go to the museum with us, but it might be interesting for him too. He didn't have to study yesterday, so he went to the movies with us.

He won't have to explain anything to us.

Absence of necessity can be expressed by NEED in the negative. The verb NEED in the negative is generally used as a main verb in the construction "don't need to". But sometimes NEED in the negative is used as a modal verb (i.e., needn't). The infinitive after the modal verb "needn't" is used without the particle "to". Compare these sentences:

I don't need to go to the store today.

We don't need to wash our car. It's not dirty.

She doesn't need to worry. Everything will be all right. (NEED as a main verb)

She needn't worry. Everything will be all right. (modal verb "needn't")

You don't need to shout. I can hear you well. (NEED as a main verb)

You needn't shout. I can hear you well. (modal verb "needn't")

Note: "Must not" does not have the meaning "absence of necessity". "Must not" and its contraction "mustn't" express strong necessity NOT to do something. This meaning of MUST in the negative is often called "prohibition".

Recommendations

Use MUST in the meaning "strong necessity" in the present and future. Replace MUST with HAD TO for "necessity" in the past. In a number of cases you can replace MUST with HAVE TO (necessity) or SHOULD (advice) if you want to sound less categorical. Use "don't have to; don't need to" if there is no necessity to do something. Video of Expressions of Necessity

AUDIO OF EXPRESSIONS OF NECCESITY

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