LoginHave To vs. Get To
'Have to' and 'get to' are used to talk about obligations and opportunities respectively. In this lesson, we will learn all about them.
What Is Their Main Difference?
The main difference between 'have to' and 'get to' is that 'have to' expresses obligations while 'get to' expresses opportunities.
Have to
'Have to' is a semi-modal verb that functions similarly to modal verbs. It can act as modals and main verbs. It is used to express obligations, certainty, etc. Have a look:
I
He
Get to
'Get to' can be used as a phrasal verb or an auxiliary verb depending on the context. If it is expressing beginnings and opportunities, it is used as an auxiliary verb. If it is asking about whereabouts, it is used as a phrasal verb. For example:
I
Here, we are talking about opportunities therefore 'get to' is an auxiliary verb.
Where have my phone
Here, it is asking about the whereabouts of something so it is a phrasal verb.
Uses
Talking about Obligations
We use 'have to' to talk about what needs to be done. Obligations are motivated by law, someone, or oneself. Take a look at the following examples:
As stated by law, you
We can't come because we
Talking about Opportunities
'Get to' is used to talk about opportunities. Opportunities are situations or occasions that if successful will have a positive outcome. For instance:
I
She
With Tenses
Structure
Affirmative Form
In affirmative form, we place 'have to' and 'get to' before the main verb. Watch:
I
I
Negative Form
To create the negative form of 'have to' and 'get to' we follow the pattern illustrated below:
I
I
Interrogative Form
To create questions with 'have to' and 'get to,' we use the pattern shown below:
- Do/Did/Does + subject + have/get to + main verb + …?
Comments
