APIE
A1CEFRGrammar12 min

Have to / don't have to: Rules and Duties

Apartments and living in a tall building

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Have to / don't have to for rules and duties

Learn how to talk about apartment rules, daily duties, and things that are optional in everyday life.

📋 How to use this lesson

For Teachers:

Spend 12 minutes on this grammar activity: read the rules together with the class, then let students work individually for 8 minutes.

Check answers together as a class or have students compare work in pairs.

For Learners:

First, read the 4 simple rules and look closely at the right and wrong examples.

Next, complete the 12 practice activities below, moving from easy to hard.

📖 Grammar Rules Breakdown

Read how to form sentences with have to and don't have to.

1

Rule 1: Duty or Rule (I / You / We / They)

Use have to + base verb to say something is a duty, so you must do it.

✅ Right: We have to close the door.
❌ Wrong: We have to closing the door.

• They have to pay the rent.

• We have to leave the keys on the doormat.

2

Rule 2: Singular Subject (He / She / It)

With he, she, it or one name, say has to and keep the next verb in its base form.

✅ Right: She has to carry the bags.
❌ Wrong: She has to carries the bags.

• Our neighbour has to move the car.

• He has to clean the stairwell today.

3

Rule 3: Not Needed / Optional

don't have to means it is not needed and you can still do it if you like.

✅ Right: You don't have to clean the roof.
❌ Wrong: You don't have to cleaning the roof.

• We do not have to wash the hallway.

• You don't have to wait at the doorstep.

4

Rule 4: Questions & Short Answers

Use Do or Does + subject + have to + verb, and answer with Yes, you do or No, I don't.

✅ Right: Does the guard have to work?
❌ Wrong: Is the guard have to work?

• Does the guard have to work at night?

• Do I have to ring the intercom?

💡 Important Note:

don't have to means "it is optional" (you can choose). It is not a rule that says "no" or "must not"!

✏️ Interactive Practice

Complete the 12 questions below to test your knowledge.

Part 1: Choose the correct sentence

1. Select the correct sentence about apartment waste:

____ a. The neighbours has to recycle their plastic and paper. ____ b. The neighbours have to recycle their plastic and paper. ____ c. The neighbours have to recycling their plastic and paper.

2. Select the correct sentence about noise rules:

____ a. The woman upstairs have to turn off the music at 10 PM. ____ b. The woman upstairs has to turns off the music at 10 PM. ____ c. The woman upstairs has to turn off the music at 10 PM.

3. Select the correct question about cans:

____ a. Do we have to recycle the cans? ____ b. Does we have to recycle the cans? ____ c. Are we have to recycle the cans?

Part 2: Make each sentence negative

4. Rewrite the sentence: "We have to lock the door." (negative)

Type the full negative sentence below.

____ (Type your sentence here...)

5. Rewrite the sentence: "She has to take the lift upstairs." (negative)

Type the full negative sentence below.

____ (Type your sentence here...)

6. Rewrite the sentence: "They have to clean the basement." (negative)

Type the full negative sentence below.

____ (Type your sentence here...)

Part 3: Fill in the gaps

7. Complete the question about visiting a friend: (use)

____ you ____ the intercom when you arrive?

8. It is a rule. Complete the sentence: (leave)

My brother ____ the keys downstairs for the cleaner.

9. Complete the question and answer: (question)

____ she ____ clean the stairwell?
Yes, she ____ .

Part 4: Correct the error in a message

📩 Message from Sam: "Hi Ben, you have to clearing the doormat before coming inside!"

10. Choose the corrected message:

____ a. Hi Ben, you has to clear the doormat before coming inside! ____ b. Hi Ben, you have to cleared the doormat before coming inside! ____ c. Hi Ben, you have to clear the doormat before coming inside!
📩 Message from Alex: "Our new neighbour has to carries the heavy boxes upstairs by himself."

11. Choose the corrected message:

____ a. Our new neighbour have to carry the heavy boxes upstairs by himself. ____ b. Our new neighbour has to carry the heavy boxes upstairs by himself. ____ c. Our new neighbour has to carries the heavy boxes upstairs by himself.
📩 Message from Maria: "Hi all, we have clean the stairwell on Friday."

12. Choose the corrected message:

____ a. Hi all, we have to clean the stairwell on Friday. ____ b. Hi all, we has to clean the stairwell on Friday. ____ c. Hi all, we have to cleaning the stairwell on Friday.
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