Learn Fluent American English: Must vs Have to

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Welcome to Go Natural English.

In this video tip we're going to take a great question from Paolo.

Paolo asked, "What is the difference between "Must" and "Have to?""

Paolo, I love this question because the confusion I think comes from traditional -- I was going

to say "bad".

I don't want to say "bad" -- I don't like passing judgment but you know what?

Bad!

Bad traditional English lessons that are too focused on grammar and that don't look at

real, natural conversational use of English -- at least American English.

Remember, I'm your American English teacher so I'm talking always about American English.

So, "Must" and "Have to" according to the grammar books are very similar.

They mean the same thing, right?

Kind of like "Should -- You should do something" -- it's a suggestion but more powerful, right?

So, here's the catch.

What your grammar books don't tell you is that we really only use "Must" when we're

talking about probability.

This is how we really use "Must" in conversation -- in daily use.

You know how I know when someone hasn't had enough exposure to real English is when they

use "Must" to suggest something.

Like "You must go to bed at 8 PM because it is good to go to bed early."

Okay, thanks.

It sounds really unnatural.

You could say in a better, more natural way "You should" or "You have to go to bed at

8 PM" right?

That's really early I don't know why I said 8 PM.

Oh, another dead giveaway that you really haven't had much exposure to natural English

is if you say, "Ought to."

"You ought to go to bed at 8 PM."

Now, actually I should take that back because I think people might say that in other countries

like maybe British English but like I said -- disclaimer -- I am teaching American English.

I am American.

I have very little exposure to British English so keep that in mind.

Okay, so "Must" is used for probability, not suggestions.

In real life, okay, I'm talking about real-life usage so, "You must have" so we always use

-- I shouldn't say always but most of the time we use "Must" and "Have" together.

"Oh, you must have read the weather report; you brought your umbrella, so you know it's

going to rain."

Wonderful, okay?

"Oh, you must have gone to bed at 8 PM last night because you're looking so handsome today"

-- so, probability, right.

We use "Must have" to show probability which is not actually discussed that often in traditional

English classes.

It makes me so mad because that's how we actually use it.

So, remember -- "Must have" for probability and "Have to" for suggestions, and that is

the true difference in real American English conversation.

If you like learning about real, natural, native English -- American English -- then

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