The phrase “to have to” is a common construction in English that expresses obligation, necessity, or requirement. Let’s break down 3 examples:
-
I‘m going to have to get a job.
- In this sentence, “going to” indicates a future action.
- “Have to” means that the speaker is obliged or required to do something. It implies that getting a job is necessary or unavoidable.
- The speaker plans to take this action in the future.
-
I don’t want to have to go through all this again, please.
- Here, the speaker expresses a desire not to experience something again.
- “Have to” conveys the idea that going through the same situation is unwanted but necessary.
- The speaker hopes to avoid repetition.
-
I used to have to fight every day.
- In the past, the speaker had a regular obligation or necessity to fight.
- “Used to” indicates a habitual action or situation.
- The speaker emphasizes the frequency of this obligation during their youth.
In summary, “to have to” introduces a sense of duty, compulsion, or inevitability related to an action or situation. It often implies that the action is not a personal choice but a requirement imposed by circumstances or external factors.
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 117 in the category of MODALITY is defined:
‘have to’ as an infinitive form
*This will overlap sometimes with B2 adjectives followed by an infinitive.
And C2 emphasis with adjective + NOT + to
PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE:
A child is very expensive, this causes parents to have to work more,
which can lead to frustration and anger.
Taiwanese female, level 4 writing class.
The most common combination with “to have to” is clearly “going” with the future meaning followed by “want”. That can be easily seen in an iWeb search for:
* _TO have _TO _VVI
1 GOING TO HAVE TO GET 4269
2 GOING TO HAVE TO GO 3892
3 GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE 3623
4 GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE 2612
5 GOING TO HAVE TO PAY 2381
6 GOING TO HAVE TO WORK 2287
7 GOING TO HAVE TO WAIT 2268
8 GOING TO HAVE TO TRY 2146
9 GOING TO HAVE TO FIND 1903
10 GOING TO HAVE TO DEAL 1681
11 GOING TO HAVE TO START 1665
12 GOING TO HAVE TO COME 1440
13 GOING TO HAVE TO LEARN 1407
14 GOING TO HAVE TO PUT 1388
15 GOING TO HAVE TO GIVE 1354
16 GOING TO HAVE TO LOOK 1334
17 GOING TO HAVE TO USE 1132
18 GOING TO HAVE TO CHANGE 1112
19 GOING TO HAVE TO PLAY 1001
20 GOING TO HAVE TO FIGURE 936
21 WANT TO HAVE TO GO 935
22 GOING TO HAVE TO SPEND 917
23 GOING TO HAVE TO BUY 881
24 WANT TO HAVE TO DEAL 863
25 GOING TO HAVE TO LIVE 828
26 GOING TO HAVE TO KEEP 826
27 GOING TO HAVE TO MOVE 643
28 GOING TO HAVE TO FIGHT 604
29 WANT TO HAVE TO WORRY 603
30 GONNA HAVE TO GO 602
31 GONNA HAVE TO GET 601
32 GOING TO HAVE TO THINK 566
33 GOING TO HAVE TO CHECK 549
34 GOING TO HAVE TO SAY 537
35 GOING TO HAVE TO SEE 530
36 GOING TO HAVE TO STOP 495
37 GOING TO HAVE TO ASK 490
38 GOING TO HAVE TO FACE 490
39 GOING TO HAVE TO LEAVE 484
40 GOING TO HAVE TO STEP 484
41 WANT TO HAVE TO PAY 465
42 GOING TO HAVE TO AGREE 463
43 GOING TO HAVE TO ACCEPT 438
44 GOING TO HAVE TO CALL 432
45 WANT TO HAVE TO BUY 431
46 GOING TO HAVE TO DECIDE 414
47 NOT TO HAVE TO WORRY 412 C2 emphasis
It was terrific not to have to worry about anything at all
48 GOING TO HAVE TO DISAGREE 409
49 GOING TO HAVE TO REPLACE 402
50 GOING TO HAVE TO CUT 396
51 GOING TO HAVE TO BUILD 392
52 GOING TO HAVE TO WATCH 392
53 GOING TO HAVE TO PICK 383
54 GOING TO HAVE TO ADD 379
55 WANT TO HAVE TO WAIT 364
56 GOING TO HAVE TO PULL 357
57 GOING TO HAVE TO LET 347
58 GOING TO HAVE TO TELL 336
59 GOING TO HAVE TO RUN 326
60 WANT TO HAVE TO TAKE 326
61 GOING TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN 322
62 GONNA HAVE TO WAIT 317
63 GONNA HAVE TO TRY 315
64 GOING TO HAVE TO STAY 311
65 GOING TO HAVE TO SIT 308
66 GOING TO HAVE TO SHOW 296
67 GOING TO HAVE TO TALK 293
68 GOING TO HAVE TO INVEST 293
69 GOING TO HAVE TO WORRY 291
70 GONNA HAVE TO TAKE 284
71 GOING TO HAVE TO WRITE 281
72 GOING TO HAVE TO DIG 281
73 WANT TO HAVE TO KEEP 281
74 GOING TO HAVE TO READ 273
75 WANT TO HAVE TO MAKE 261
76 GOING TO HAVE TO BRING 259
77 WANT TO HAVE TO THINK 258
78 WANT TO HAVE TO USE 257
79 WANT TO HAVE TO SPEND 256
80 GOING TO HAVE TO CONTINUE 253
81 GOING TO HAVE TO BREAK 251
82 GOING TO HAVE TO RELY 250
83 WANT TO HAVE TO GET 250
84 GOING TO HAVE TO EAT 241
85 GON NA HAVE TO MAKE 231
86 GOING TO HAVE TO TRUST 230
87 NOT TO HAVE TO GO 220
88 GOING TO HAVE TO PROVE 218
89 GOING TO HAVE TO BECOME 216
90 GOING TO HAVE TO KILL 214
91 NOT TO HAVE TO DEAL 213
92 WANT TO HAVE TO CHANGE 207
93 GOING TO HAVE TO ANSWER 206
94 GOING TO HAVE TO CREATE 199
95 GONNA HAVE TO START 196
96 GOING TO HAVE TO PASS 195
97 WANT TO HAVE TO PUT 194
98 GONNA HAVE TO PAY 193
99 GONNA HAVE TO GIVE 193
100 GOING TO HAVE TO TURN 190
101 GOING TO HAVE TO WIN 188
102 GOING TO HAVE TO EARN 187
103 GOING TO HAVE TO ADJUST 187
104 WANT TO HAVE TO EXPLAIN 187
105 USED TO HAVE TO GO 183
106 GOING TO HAVE TO HAPPEN 182
107 GOING TO HAVE TO STICK 178
108 GOING TO HAVE TO REMOVE 177
109 WANT TO HAVE TO REPLACE 177
110 GOING TO HAVE TO ADAPT 175
111 GOING TO HAVE TO WALK 173
112 GOING TO HAVE TO ORDER 172
113 GON NA HAVE TO DEAL 170
114 GOING TO HAVE TO ADDRESS 168
115 GON NA HAVE TO WORK 167
116 GOING TO HAVE TO CHOOSE 165
117 GOING TO HAVE TO SEND 163
118 GOING TO HAVE TO SELL 162
119 WANT TO HAVE TO START 162
120 WANT TO HAVE TO RELY 161
121 GON NA HAVE TO PUT 161
122 GON NA HAVE TO FIND 158
123 GOING TO HAVE TO HIT 156
124 GOING TO HAVE TO CONSIDER 155
125 GOING TO HAVE TO HELP 152
126 LIKELY TO HAVE TO PAY 150 B2 probability
The issue of whether or not she‘s your type
is not one you‘re likely to have to resolve
in this world.
127 GOING TO HAVE TO SET 148
128 GOING TO HAVE TO CARRY 146
129 GOING TO HAVE TO STAND 145
130 GOING TO HAVE TO CLEAN 144
131 GOING TO HAVE TO RAISE 143
132 GOING TO HAVE TO SETTLE 143
133 GOING TO HAVE TO THROW 141
134 GOING TO HAVE TO PUSH 138
135 NOT TO HAVE TO PAY 137
136 GOING TO HAVE TO BEAT 136
137 GOING TO HAVE TO HOLD 133
138 NOT TO HAVE TO USE 133
139 GOING TO HAVE TO RETURN 132
140 GOING TO HAVE TO DROP 130
141 WANT TO HAVE TO STOP 129
142 GOING TO HAVE TO RETHINK 126
143 SORRY TO HAVE TO TELL 126 B2 modality
I‘m sorry to have to tell you this
but your wife was arrested last night,
in the bar.
144 GON NA HAVE TO SAY 126
145 EXPECT TO HAVE TO PAY 124
146 WANT TO HAVE TO RUN 122
147 GOING TO HAVE TO DEVELOP 121
148 GOING TO HAVE TO GROW 121
149 GON NA HAVE TO COME 120
150 GOING TO HAVE TO SHARE 118
151 GOING TO HAVE TO FOLLOW 118
152 WANT TO HAVE TO WORK 118
153 GOING TO HAVE TO WEAR 117
154 GOING TO HAVE TO SWITCH 117
155 GOING TO HAVE TO PROVIDE 116
156 GOING TO HAVE TO FIX 114
157 GOING TO HAVE TO KNOW 114
158 GOING TO HAVE TO SUCK 114
159 GON NA HAVE TO USE 114
160 SORRY TO HAVE TO SAY 114
161 WANT TO HAVE TO MOVE 113
162 WANT TO HAVE TO LOOK 110
163 GOING TO HAVE TO JUMP 109
164 GON NA HAVE TO CHECK 108
165 GOING TO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND 108
166 GON NA HAVE TO BUY 108
167 WANT TO HAVE TO CARRY 107
168 WANT TO HAVE TO LEARN 106
169 GON NA HAVE TO ASK 106
170 USED TO HAVE TO TAKE 105
171 WANT TO HAVE TO REMEMBER 105
172 GON NA HAVE TO AGREE 103
173 GOING TO HAVE TO BITE 101
174 GOING TO HAVE TO IMPROVE 100
175 GOING TO HAVE TO SHOOT 100
176 GOING TO HAVE TO LISTEN 99
177 WANT TO HAVE TO LEAVE 99
178 WANT TO HAVE TO TELL 98
179 GON NA HAVE TO LOOK 98
180 GON NA HAVE TO LEARN 97
181 GOING TO HAVE TO COMPETE 97
182 GOING TO HAVE TO OPEN 96
183 GOING TO HAVE TO REMEMBER 95
184 GOING TO HAVE TO END 95
185 GOING TO HAVE TO SAVE 95
186 NOT TO HAVE TO THINK 94
187 GOING TO HAVE TO DRIVE 94
188 GOING TO HAVE TO MEET 94
189 GOING TO HAVE TO HIRE 92
190 GOING TO HAVE TO ENDURE 92
191 WANT TO HAVE TO GIVE 92
192 GOING TO HAVE TO PURCHASE 91
193 GOING TO HAVE TO DEFEND 90
194 GON NA HAVE TO DISAGREE 90
195 GOING TO HAVE TO TRAVEL 90
196 NOT TO HAVE TO TAKE 89
197 WANT TO HAVE TO CREATE 89
198 GON NA HAVE TO KEEP 88
199 GOING TO HAVE TO SPEAK 88
200 GOING TO HAVE TO EXPERIMENT 88
201 GOING TO HAVE TO FOCUS 88
202 GOING TO HAVE TO INCREASE 85
203 GOING TO HAVE TO MANAGE 85
204 USED TO HAVE TO USE 84
205 WANT TO HAVE TO ASK 84
206 WANT TO HAVE TO FIGHT 84
207 WANT TO HAVE TO WRITE 84
208 USED TO HAVE TO GET 83
209 WANT TO HAVE TO ADD 83
210 NOT TO HAVE TO BUY 83
211 GOING TO HAVE TO CLOSE 83
212 GOING TO HAVE TO PRODUCE 82
213 GOING TO HAVE TO OVERCOME 82
214 GON NA HAVE TO PLAY 81
215 GON NA HAVE TO FIGURE 81
216 WANT TO HAVE TO CALL 81
217 USED TO HAVE TO WAIT 80
218 GOING TO HAVE TO SUFFER 80
219 GOING TO HAVE TO TEST 80
220 GOING TO HAVE TO UPGRADE 79
221 USED TO HAVE TO PAY 79
222 GOING TO HAVE TO CONVINCE 79
223 WANT TO HAVE TO COME 79
224 WANT TO HAVE TO SIT 78
225 WANT TO HAVE TO TURN 77
226 GOING TO HAVE TO FILL 77
227 GOING TO HAVE TO CANCEL 76
228 GONNA HAVE TO CUT 76
229 GONNA HAVE TO CHANGE 76
230 NOT TO HAVE TO MAKE 75
231 ME TO HAVE TO GO 75
232 WANT TO HAVE TO WALK 75
233 WANT TO HAVE TO REMOVE 75
234 GOING TO HAVE TO SIGN 74
235 GOING TO HAVE TO SORT 73
236 NOT TO HAVE TO SPEND 73
237 NOT TO HAVE TO WORK 73
238 GOING TO HAVE TO TEACH 72
239 GOING TO HAVE TO SACRIFICE 72
240 WANT TO HAVE TO DRIVE 72
241 YOU TO HAVE TO GO 72
242 WANT TO HAVE TO SEND 71
243 WANT TO HAVE TO CHOOSE 70
244 GOING TO HAVE TO OFFER 70
245 GOING TO HAVE TO REBUILD 69
246 GONNA HAVE TO CALL 69
247 NOT TO HAVE TO WAIT 69
248 GONNA HAVE TO SEE 69
249 GOING TO HAVE TO QUIT 68
250 GOING TO HAVE TO DIE 68
251 GOING TO HAVE TO CONFRONT 68
252 WANT TO HAVE TO MESS 68
253 WANT TO HAVE TO CLEAN 67
254 WANT TO HAVE TO TRY 67
255 WANT TO HAVE TO SAY 67
256 GOING TO HAVE TO CHARGE 67
257 GOING TO HAVE TO FORCE 67
258 LIKELY TO HAVE TO DEAL 67
259 GOING TO HAVE TO SOLVE 67
260 GON NA HAVE TO LEAVE 66
261 HATE TO HAVE TO GO 66
262 WANT TO HAVE TO PLAY 66
263 WANT TO HAVE TO PULL 65
264 WANT TO HAVE TO FIND 65
265 WANT TO HAVE TO WEAR 65
266 GOING TO HAVE TO LOSE 65
267 GOING TO HAVE TO ASSUME 65
268 NOT TO HAVE TO GET 64
269 GOING TO HAVE TO SCORE 64
270 WANT TO HAVE TO LIVE 64
271 THING TO HAVE TO DEAL 63
272 GONNA HAVE TO MOVE 63
273 NOT TO HAVE TO CARRY 62
274 GOING TO HAVE TO STUDY 62
275 GON NA HAVE TO FIGHT 62
276 GOING TO HAVE TO DELIVER 62
277 GOING TO HAVE TO PLAN 62
278 WANT TO HAVE TO OPEN 62
279 YOU TO HAVE TO PAY 62
280 WANT TO HAVE TO SWITCH 61
281 GOING TO HAVE TO COVER 61
282 GOING TO HAVE TO BATTLE 61
283 GOING TO HAVE TO SHUT 61
284 GON NA HAVE TO WATCH 61
285 GON NA HAVE TO LIVE 61
286 THEM TO HAVE TO GO 60
287 GOING TO HAVE TO ADMIT 60
288 GOING TO HAVE TO ACT 60
289 GOING TO HAVE TO COMPROMISE 60
290 GOING TO HAVE TO INCLUDE 60
291 GOING TO HAVE TO HOPE 59
292 GOING TO HAVE TO PERFORM 59
293 GON NA HAVE TO KILL 59
294 NOT TO HAVE TO RELY 58
295 GOING TO HAVE TO RIDE 58
296 GOING TO HAVE TO SEARCH 57
297 USED TO HAVE TO MAKE 57
298 NEED TO HAVE TO MAKE 57
299 GOING TO HAVE TO PREPARE 57
300 GOING TO HAVE TO REALIZE 57
A2:
add, agree, become, break, bring, build, call, check, cover, cut, decide, earn, explain, fill, follow,
grow, happen, hate, hit, hold, hope, improve, include, jump, keep, kill, let, lose, move, offer, order,
pass, pick, plan, prepare, pull, push, return, save, sell, set, share, shut, sign, sort, spend, stand, throw, try, turn, win
B1:
accept, act, admit, battle, beat, bite, cancel, charge, compete, consider, continue, convince, create,
defend, deliver, develop, dig, disagree, drop, expect, experiment, fight, figure, fix, hire, increase,
likely, manage, mess, perform, produce, prove, provide, quit, raise, realize, rebuild, remove, replace,
score, search, shoot, solve, step, stick, switch, trust
B2:
adapt, adjust, assume, compromise, deal, endure, focus, force, invest, overcome, purchase, settle, suffer, upgrade
EXPERT EXAMPLE:
Since developers don’t want to have to learn
a whole new way of writing code
to call on APIs every time they start a new project,
they tend to fall back on a common standard.