English
Must, Have To, and Need To
Updated Oct 28, 2026
Express requirements and distinguish their negatives.
What you’ll learn
Express requirements and distinguish their negatives.
បែងចែកភាពចាំបាច់ ការហាម និងភាពមិនចាំបាច់។
Meaning and use
Must, have to, and need to express necessity with overlapping meanings. Must often presents a strong requirement from the speaker; have to often points to a rule or circumstance. Must not means prohibition, while do not have to and do not need to mean absence of necessity.
Must, have to និង need to បង្ហាញភាពចាំបាច់។ Must not មានន័យថាហាមធ្វើ។ Do not have to មានន័យថាមិនចាំបាច់ធ្វើ តែមិនមែនហាមទេ។
Grammar patterns
| Pattern | Example or form |
|---|---|
| Requirement | must + base / have to + base |
| Different negatives | must not = prohibited; do not have to = optional |
Examples
-
You must wear a helmet here.
អ្នកត្រូវពាក់មួកសុវត្ថិភាពនៅទីនេះ។
-
I have to work on Saturday.
ខ្ញុំត្រូវធ្វើការនៅថ្ងៃសៅរ៍។
-
You must not park in front of the gate.
អ្នកមិនត្រូវចតរថយន្តមុខទ្វារទេ។
-
You do not have to print the ticket.
អ្នកមិនចាំបាច់បោះពុម្ពសំបុត្រទេ។
Everyday conversation
Dara: Do I have to bring my own lunch?
Maly: No, you do not have to. Lunch is provided.
Common mistakes
| Instead of | Use | Why |
|---|---|---|
| She musts leave now. | She must leave now. | Modals do not take third-person -s. |
| You must not pay; it is free. (intended: no payment needed) | You do not have to pay; it is free. | No necessity is different from prohibition. |
Practice
Try these questions before opening the answers. Write or say each answer.
សាកល្បងឆ្លើយសំណួរទាំងនេះជាមុនសិន មុននឹងបើកមើលចម្លើយ។ អ្នកអាចសរសេរ ឬនិយាយចម្លើយរបស់អ្នក។
- Choose for a ban: You ___ smoke in the library.
- Complete a past requirement: Yesterday I ___ work late.
- Does You do not have to come mean coming is forbidden?
Answers and explanations
Show answers / បង្ហាញចម្លើយ
-
must not
The action is prohibited.
-
had to
Use had to for ordinary past obligation.
-
No. Coming is optional.
The negative of have to removes necessity.
Quick recap
- Requirement: must + base / have to + base
- Different negatives: must not = prohibited; do not have to = optional