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Strong obligation: have (got) to

Meaning: obligation, certainty​

We can use have (got) + infinitive to talk about obligation: things that it is necessary to do. The meaning is quite similar to must; for differences, (see here).

  • Sorry, I’ve got to go now.
  • Do you often have to travel on business?

Grammar: with or without do; got​

In this structure, have can be used like an ordinary verb (with do in questions and negatives), or like an auxiliary verb (without do). Got is usually added to present-tense auxiliary-verb forms in an informal style.

  • When do you have to be back?
  • When have you (got) to be back?

Have got to is not normally used to talk about repeated obligation.

  • I usually have to be at work at eight. (not I’ve usually got to …)

Progressive forms are possible to talk about temporary continued obligation.

  • I’m having to work very hard at the moment.

For more details of the use of do-forms and got-forms of have, (see here).

Pronunciation of have to; gotta​

Have to is often pronounced /ˈhæftə/.

  • He’ll have to /ˈhæftə/ get a new passport soon.

Note the spelling gotta, sometimes used in informal American English (for instance in cartoon strips) to show the conversational pronunciation of got to.

  • I gotta call home.
  • A man’s gotta do what a man’s gotta do.