Use of “Having to” in English: Meaning, Usage
The phrase “Having to” is used in English to express necessity, obligation, or duty. It often describes the experience of being forced to do something, rather than giving a direct command. Understanding how to use it correctly can improve your spoken and written English, making your sentences sound natural and accurate.
Having to = The act or experience of being required or obliged to do something.
- Example: I dislike having to wait in long queues.
Meaning: Being forced to wait feels unpleasant.
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈhævɪŋ tuː/
Usage Tips:
- It can describe past, present, or ongoing obligations.
- It often expresses frustration, dislike, or inconvenience.
- It is usually followed by the base form of a verb.
Use of “Having to” in English
The phrase “having to” is formed by using having (present participle of have) + to + base verb.
It is generally used to show necessity, obligation, or compulsion, similar to needing to or being obliged to.
Expressing Necessity or Obligation
“Having to” shows that something is necessary or unavoidable.
Examples:
- I dislike having to wake up early.
- She is tired of having to explain everything twice.
Meaning: Being forced or required to do something.
As a Gerund/Noun Phrase
When “having to” begins a sentence, it functions like a noun phrase.
Examples:
- Having to travel daily can be exhausting.
- Having to work late affects family time.
Meaning: The obligation itself is treated as a subject or object.
In Negative Sense (Unpleasant Obligation)
It often carries the idea of inconvenience or something undesirable.
Examples:
- He hates having to wait for hours.
- We dislike having to cancel our plans.
Meaning: The necessity feels burdensome.
In Past Situations
It can also be used with was/were to describe obligation in the past.
Examples:
- She remembered having to move schools as a child.
- He regretted having to sell his car.
Meaning: Refers to obligation experienced in the past.
Difference Between “Have to” and “Having to”
- Have to = shows necessity in normal tense (e.g., I have to go now.)
- Having to = gerund/participle form, often showing the state of obligation (e.g., I dislike having to wait.)
The structure “having to” is used when talking about the experience of obligation or necessity itself.
It often expresses something unpleasant or inconvenient, though it can be neutral in certain contexts.
It turns the idea of must/need into a noun-like expression, making it useful in both formal and informal English.
Difference Between “Having to” and “Must/Need to”
The expressions “having to”, “must”, and “need to” are all used to show necessity, duty, or obligation, but they differ in form, usage, and tone.
Form and Grammar
- Must: A modal verb used directly with the base form of the verb.
- Example: You must finish your homework.
- Need to: A semi-modal verb used with the base verb.
- Example: She needs to leave early.
- Having to: Present participle/gerund form of have to, often used as a noun phrase or in continuous constructions.
- Example: I dislike having to explain everything twice.
Use in Sentences
- Must expresses strong personal obligation, rules, or certainty.
- You must wear a helmet when riding a bike.
- Need to shows necessity but is softer and more practical.
- You need to drink plenty of water every day.
- Having to talks about the experience of obligation itself rather than giving the command.
- I hate having to wake up so early.
Time Reference
- Must is mostly used in the present or future. It does not usually have past forms.
- I must go now.
- Need to can be used in present, past, and future forms.
- He needed to finish the project yesterday.
- Having to is often used for general, ongoing, or past obligations.
- She remembered having to move schools as a child.
Strength of Obligation
- Must = Strongest, often linked to rules, laws, or urgency.
- Passengers must not smoke inside the train.
- Need to = Strong, but more about practicality and necessity.
- You need to exercise to stay healthy.
- Having to = Neutral or negative feeling about obligation, focusing on the experience or inconvenience.
- He hates having to wait in traffic.
Quick Comparison Table Between “Having to” and “Must / Need to”
Expression | Example | Meaning / Tone |
Must | You must wear a uniform. | Strong obligation, rules, or laws. |
Need to | She needs to study for the exam. | Practical necessity, softer than must. |
Having to | I dislike having to explain everything. | Talking about the burden or experience of obligation. |
Key Points:
- Must = Strong personal or legal obligation.
- Need to = Practical requirement, everyday necessity.
- Having to = Focuses on the experience of obligation, often expressing discomfort or frustration.
Using “Having to” correctly enhances your English by:
- Expressing necessity or obligation naturally.
- Describing the experience or burden of doing something.
- Differentiating your meaning from must and need to.
Tip: Combine these examples in your writing or speaking to sound fluent and precise. For instance, instead of saying “I must explain”, using “I hate having to explain” conveys personal feeling alongside obligation.
Note:
- Use must for rules, authority, and strong necessity.
- Use need to for practical requirements and everyday obligations.
- Use having to when describing the experience, burden, or memory of obligation.
Thus, while all three express necessity, the choice depends on whether you are giving a command (must), stating a requirement (need to), or describing the feeling of obligation (having to).
100 Examples of “Having to” with Pronunciation and Meaning
Here are 100 sentences using “Having to” in British English, along with IPA pronunciation and meaning
100 Examples of “Having to” with Pronunciation and Meaning | |||
Sr. No. | Sentence | IPA Pronunciation | Meaning |
1 | I dislike having to wake up early. | /aɪ dɪsˈlaɪk ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈweɪk ʌp ˈɜːli/ | I do not like being obliged to wake up. |
2 | She hates having to explain everything twice. | /ʃiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə ɪkˈspleɪn ˈɛvrɪθɪŋ twaɪs/ | She feels annoyed at being forced to explain again. |
3 | They enjoy not having to work on weekends. | /ðeɪ ɪnˈdʒɔɪ nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə wɜːk ɒn ˈwiːkɛndz/ | They feel happy to be free from work on weekends. |
4 | He hates having to cancel his plans. | /hiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈkænsəl hɪz plænz/ | He feels upset because he must cancel his plans. |
5 | We regret having to leave early. | /wiː rɪˈɡrɛt ˈhævɪŋ tə liːv ˈɜːli/ | We feel sorry about being obliged to leave early. |
6 | She remembered having to move schools as a child. | /ʃiː rɪˈmɛmbəd ˈhævɪŋ tə muːv skuːlz əz ə tʃaɪld/ | She recalls the past obligation of changing schools. |
7 | He dislikes having to pay extra charges. | /hiː dɪsˈlaɪks ˈhævɪŋ tə peɪ ˈɛkstrə ˈtʃɑːdʒɪz/ | He feels unhappy about paying extra fees. |
8 | I am used to having to work late. | /aɪ æm juːst tə ˈhævɪŋ tə wɜːk leɪt/ | I am accustomed to being obliged to work late. |
9 | They fear having to make a difficult choice. | /ðeɪ fɪər ˈhævɪŋ tə meɪk ə ˈdɪfɪkəlt ʧɔɪs/ | They are worried about being forced to make a tough decision. |
10 | She avoided having to answer the question. | /ʃiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈɑːnsər ðə ˈkwɛstʃən/ | She escaped the obligation to reply to the question. |
11 | He hates having to depend on others. | /hiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə dɪˈpɛnd ɒn ˈʌðərz/ | He dislikes being forced to rely on other people. |
12 | I like not having to rush in the morning. | /aɪ laɪk nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə rʌʃ ɪn ðə ˈmɔːnɪŋ/ | I enjoy being free from hurry in the morning. |
13 | She is annoyed at having to repeat herself. | /ʃiː ɪz əˈnɔɪd æt ˈhævɪŋ tə rɪˈpiːt hɜːˈsɛlf/ | She feels frustrated about being forced to repeat things. |
14 | They are thankful for not having to pay rent. | /ðeɪ ə ˈθæŋkfʊl fɔː nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə peɪ rɛnt/ | They feel grateful to be free from paying rent. |
15 | He recalled having to hide during the storm. | /hiː rɪˈkɔːld ˈhævɪŋ tə haɪd ˈdjʊərɪŋ ðə stɔːm/ | He remembers being obliged to take shelter. |
16 | We enjoyed not having to cook dinner. | /wiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə kʊk ˈdɪnər/ | We felt happy about not being required to cook. |
17 | She hates having to borrow money. | /ʃiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈbɒrəʊ ˈmʌni/ | She feels unhappy about being forced to borrow money. |
18 | He is stressed about having to finish the report. | /hiː ɪz strɛst əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈfɪnɪʃ ðə rɪˈpɔːt/ | He feels pressure from being obliged to complete the report. |
19 | They are relieved at not having to travel daily. | /ðeɪ ə rɪˈliːvd æt nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈtrævəl ˈdeɪli/ | They feel relieved to be free from daily travel. |
20 | I avoid having to argue with colleagues. | /aɪ əˈvɔɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈɑːɡjuː wɪð ˈkɒliːɡz/ | I escape the obligation to argue with coworkers. |
21 | He regretted having to resign from his job. | /hiː rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə rɪˈzaɪn frɒm hɪz ʤɒb/ | He felt sorry about being forced to leave his job. |
22 | She dislikes having to follow strict rules. | /ʃiː dɪsˈlaɪks ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈfɒləʊ strɪkt ruːlz/ | She feels unhappy about being obliged to obey strict rules. |
23 | We were annoyed by having to wait so long. | /wiː wɜːr əˈnɔɪd baɪ ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪt səʊ lɒŋ/ | We felt frustrated because we had to wait for a long time. |
24 | He avoided having to take responsibility. | /hiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə teɪk rɪˌspɒnsɪˈbɪlɪti/ | He escaped the duty of being responsible. |
25 | She enjoys not having to study during holidays. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪz nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈstʌdi ˈdjʊərɪŋ ˈhɒlɪdeɪz/ | She feels happy to be free from studying during holidays. |
26 | They hated having to give up their seats. | /ðeɪ heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ɡɪv ʌp ðeər siːts/ | They felt unhappy about being forced to surrender their seats. |
27 | He was upset about having to sell his bike. | /hiː wəz ʌpˈsɛt əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə sɛl hɪz baɪk/ | He felt sad because he was obliged to sell his bike. |
28 | We enjoyed having to do nothing at all. | /wiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə duː ˈnʌθɪŋ æt ɔːl/ | We felt happy about the opportunity to be free from work. |
29 | She is scared of having to face the truth. | /ʃiː ɪz skɛəd əv ˈhævɪŋ tə feɪs ðə truːθ/ | She feels afraid of being forced to accept the truth. |
30 | He dislikes having to wait for slow internet. | /hiː dɪsˈlaɪks ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪt fɔː sləʊ ˈɪntənet/ | He feels frustrated when obliged to wait due to slow internet. |
31 | They complained about having to pay high taxes. | /ðeɪ kəmˈpleɪnd əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə peɪ haɪ ˈtæksɪz/ | They felt annoyed at being forced to pay high taxes. |
32 | I hate having to admit mistakes. | /aɪ heɪt ˈhævɪŋ tə ədˈmɪt mɪˈsteɪks/ | I feel unhappy about being obliged to confess errors. |
33 | She regrets having to say goodbye. | /ʃiː rɪˈɡrɛts ˈhævɪŋ tə seɪ ɡʊdˈbaɪ/ | She feels sad about being forced to part ways. |
34 | He avoided having to meet his boss. | /hiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə miːt hɪz bɒs/ | He escaped the obligation to meet his manager. |
35 | We are tired of having to listen to complaints. | /wiː ə ˈtaɪəd əv ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈlɪsən tə kəmˈpleɪnts/ | We feel frustrated because we must listen to complaints. |
36 | She enjoyed not having to answer the phone. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈɑːnsər ðə fəʊn/ | She felt happy to be free from answering calls. |
37 | He recalled having to sleep on the floor. | /hiː rɪˈkɔːld ˈhævɪŋ tə sliːp ɒn ðə flɔː/ | He remembers the obligation of sleeping on the floor. |
38 | They dislike having to follow orders blindly. | /ðeɪ dɪsˈlaɪk ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈfɒləʊ ˈɔːrdərz ˈblaɪndli/ | They feel frustrated by being forced to obey orders without question. |
39 | I avoid having to borrow from friends. | /aɪ əˈvɔɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈbɒrəʊ frɒm frɛndz/ | I prefer not to be obliged to borrow money from friends. |
40 | She complained about having to walk long distances. | /ʃiː kəmˈpleɪnd əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə wɔːk lɒŋ ˈdɪstənsɪz/ | She feels irritated by being obliged to walk far distances. |
41 | He regrets having to punish his child. | /hiː rɪˈɡrɛts ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈpʌnɪʃ hɪz ʧaɪld/ | He feels unhappy about being forced to discipline his child. |
42 | We hated having to cancel our trip. | /wiː heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈkænsəl aʊər trɪp/ | We felt upset about being forced to cancel our travel plans. |
43 | She enjoyed not having to get up early. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə ɡɛt ʌp ˈɜːli/ | She felt happy to be free from rising early. |
44 | He remembered having to fight for survival. | /hiː rɪˈmɛmbəd ˈhævɪŋ tə faɪt fɔː səˈvaɪvəl/ | He recalls the necessity of struggling to survive. |
45 | They dislike having to clean the house daily. | /ðeɪ dɪsˈlaɪk ˈhævɪŋ tə kliːn ðə haʊs ˈdeɪli/ | They feel burdened by the obligation to clean the house every day. |
46 | I hate having to argue with relatives. | /aɪ heɪt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈɑːɡjuː wɪð ˈrɛlətɪvz/ | I feel unhappy about being forced to argue with family members. |
47 | She is stressed about having to prepare for exams. | /ʃiː ɪz strɛst əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə prɪˈpɛə fɔː ɪɡˈzæmz/ | She feels pressure because she must prepare for exams. |
48 | He enjoyed not having to commute every day. | /hiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə kəˈmjuːt ˈɛvrɪ deɪ/ | He felt happy to be free from daily commuting. |
49 | They regretted having to shut down their shop. | /ðeɪ rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ʃʌt daʊn ðeər ʃɒp/ | They felt sad about being forced to close their shop. |
50 | We disliked having to stand in the rain. | /wiː dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə stænd ɪn ðə reɪn/ | We felt uncomfortable and unhappy about being obliged to stand in the rain. |
Sr. No. | Sentence | IPA Pronunciation | Meaning |
51 | He hates having to apologise for things he didn’t do. | /hiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə əˈpɒlədʒaɪz fɔː θɪŋz hiː dɪdnt duː/ | He feels unhappy about being forced to apologise for no fault of his own. |
52 | She complained about having to carry heavy bags. | /ʃiː kəmˈpleɪnd əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈkæri ˈhɛvi bægz/ | She felt irritated by being obliged to carry heavy luggage. |
53 | They regretted having to sell their family home. | /ðeɪ rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə sɛl ðeər ˈfæməli həʊm/ | They felt sad about being forced to sell their home. |
54 | He avoids having to tell lies. | /hiː əˈvɔɪdz ˈhævɪŋ tə tɛl laɪz/ | He prefers not to be obliged to lie. |
55 | She dislikes having to speak in public. | /ʃiː dɪsˈlaɪks ˈhævɪŋ tə spiːk ɪn ˈpʌblɪk/ | She feels uncomfortable about being obliged to speak in front of people. |
56 | We were annoyed by having to repeat instructions. | /wiː wɜːr əˈnɔɪd baɪ ˈhævɪŋ tə rɪˈpiːt ɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/ | We felt frustrated because we were forced to repeat instructions. |
57 | He enjoyed not having to wear formal clothes. | /hiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə wɛər ˈfɔːml kləʊðz/ | He felt happy to be free from wearing formal clothes. |
58 | She is tired of having to remind people constantly. | /ʃiː ɪz ˈtaɪəd əv ˈhævɪŋ tə rɪˈmaɪnd ˈpiːpl ˈkɒnstəntli/ | She feels exhausted because she must constantly remind others. |
59 | They hated having to queue for hours. | /ðeɪ heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə kjuː fɔː ˈaʊəz/ | They felt frustrated about being obliged to stand in line for hours. |
60 | I regret having to cancel my appointment. | /aɪ rɪˈɡrɛt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈkænsəl maɪ əˈpɔɪntmənt/ | I feel sorry about being forced to cancel my appointment. |
61 | He disliked having to borrow money from friends. | /hiː dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈbɒrəʊ ˈmʌni frɒm frɛndz/ | He felt uncomfortable about being obliged to borrow money. |
62 | She avoided having to deal with angry customers. | /ʃiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə diːl wɪð ˈæŋɡri ˈkʌstəməz/ | She escaped the obligation of handling angry customers. |
63 | We are relieved at not having to pay electricity bills. | /wiː ə rɪˈliːvd æt nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə peɪ ɪlɛkˈtrɪsɪti bɪlz/ | We feel happy to be free from paying electricity bills. |
64 | He hates having to share his belongings. | /hiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə ʃeər hɪz bɪˈlɒŋɪŋz/ | He feels unhappy about being obliged to share his things. |
65 | She recalled having to walk miles to school. | /ʃiː rɪˈkɔːld ˈhævɪŋ tə wɔːk maɪlz tə skuːl/ | She remembers the obligation of walking long distances to school. |
66 | They are frustrated by having to wait for delayed trains. | /ðeɪ ə frʌsˈtreɪtɪd baɪ ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪt fɔː dɪˈleɪd treɪnz/ | They feel annoyed because they must wait for late trains. |
67 | He enjoyed not having to cook during holidays. | /hiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə kʊk ˈdjʊərɪŋ ˈhɒlɪdeɪz/ | He felt happy to be free from cooking during holidays. |
68 | She dislikes having to follow unnecessary rules. | /ʃiː dɪsˈlaɪks ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈfɒləʊ ʌnˈnɛsəsəri ruːlz/ | She feels irritated about being obliged to follow useless rules. |
69 | We regretted having to close our shop. | /wiː rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə kləʊz aʊər ʃɒp/ | We felt sad about being forced to shut down our shop. |
70 | He hates having to repeat the same work. | /hiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə rɪˈpiːt ðə seɪm wɜːk/ | He feels unhappy about being obliged to repeat work. |
71 | She complained about having to wake up so early. | /ʃiː kəmˈpleɪnd əˈbaʊt ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪk ʌp səʊ ˈɜːli/ | She feels frustrated by being forced to wake up very early. |
72 | They avoided having to make a difficult choice. | /ðeɪ əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə meɪk ə ˈdɪfɪkəlt ʧɔɪs/ | They escaped the obligation of making a tough decision. |
73 | I dislike having to travel long distances daily. | /aɪ dɪsˈlaɪk ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈtrævəl lɒŋ ˈdɪstənsɪz ˈdeɪli/ | I feel unhappy about being obliged to travel far every day. |
74 | He regretted having to punish his students. | /hiː rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈpʌnɪʃ hɪz ˈstjuːdənts/ | He felt sad about being obliged to punish his students. |
75 | She enjoys not having to answer work calls on weekends. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪz nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈɑːnsər wɜːk kɔːlz ɒn ˈwiːkɛndz/ | She feels happy to be free from answering work calls during weekends. |
76 | He hated having to attend boring meetings. | /hiː heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə əˈtɛnd ˈbɔːrɪŋ ˈmiːtɪŋz/ | He felt unhappy about being obliged to sit through dull meetings. |
77 | She enjoys not having to cook after a long day. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪz nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə kʊk ˈɑːftər ə lɒŋ deɪ/ | She feels happy to be free from cooking after a tiring day. |
78 | They disliked having to wait in traffic. | /ðeɪ dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪt ɪn ˈtræfɪk/ | They felt frustrated about being obliged to wait in traffic. |
79 | I regret having to cancel my holiday plans. | /aɪ rɪˈɡrɛt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈkænsəl maɪ ˈhɒlɪdeɪ plænz/ | I felt sad about being forced to cancel my holiday. |
80 | He avoided having to confront his mistakes. | /hiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə kənˈfrʌnt hɪz mɪsˈteɪks/ | He escaped the obligation of facing his mistakes. |
81 | She hated having to get up early for school. | /ʃiː heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ɡɛt ʌp ˈɜːli fɔː skuːl/ | She felt unhappy about being obliged to wake up early. |
82 | They are frustrated by having to repeat the instructions. | /ðeɪ ə frʌsˈtreɪtɪd baɪ ˈhævɪŋ tə rɪˈpiːt ðə ɪnˈstrʌkʃənz/ | They feel annoyed because they must repeat the instructions. |
83 | He disliked having to clean the kitchen every day. | /hiː dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə kliːn ðə ˈkɪtʃɪn ˈɛvri deɪ/ | He feels unhappy about being obliged to clean daily. |
84 | She enjoys not having to worry about deadlines. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪz nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈwʌri əˈbaʊt ˈdɛdlaɪnz/ | She feels happy to be free from worrying about deadlines. |
85 | I dislike having to explain complicated rules. | /aɪ dɪsˈlaɪk ˈhævɪŋ tə ɪkˈspleɪn ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd ruːlz/ | I feel frustrated by being obliged to explain complex rules. |
86 | He hated having to wait in long queues at the bank. | /hiː heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪt ɪn lɒŋ kjuːz æt ðə bæŋk/ | He felt unhappy about being forced to stand in long bank queues. |
87 | She avoided having to speak in front of a large crowd. | /ʃiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə spiːk ɪn frʌnt əv ə lɑːʤ kraʊd/ | She escaped the obligation of speaking publicly. |
88 | They enjoyed not having to cook dinner on weekends. | /ðeɪ ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə kʊk ˈdɪnər ɒn ˈwiːkɛndz/ | They felt happy to be free from cooking dinner on weekends. |
89 | He regretted having to move to another city for work. | /hiː rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə muːv tə əˈnʌðər ˈsɪti fɔː wɜːk/ | He felt sad about being obliged to relocate for work. |
90 | She hates having to explain her decisions to others. | /ʃiː heɪts ˈhævɪŋ tə ɪkˈspleɪn hɜː dɪˈsɪʒənz tə ˈʌðərz/ | She feels unhappy about being forced to justify her choices. |
91 | We are relieved at not having to pay extra fees. | /wiː ə rɪˈliːvd æt nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə peɪ ˈɛkstrə fiːz/ | We feel happy to be free from paying additional charges. |
92 | He disliked having to stand for long periods. | /hiː dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə stænd fɔː lɒŋ ˈpɪərɪədz/ | He feels uncomfortable about being obliged to stand for long periods. |
93 | She remembered having to leave her home early. | /ʃiː rɪˈmɛmbəd ˈhævɪŋ tə liːv hɜː həʊm ˈɜːli/ | She recalls being obliged to leave her home early. |
94 | They hated having to postpone their plans due to rain. | /ðeɪ heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə pəʊstˈpəʊn ðeər plænz djuː tə reɪn/ | They felt frustrated about being forced to delay plans because of rain. |
95 | I disliked having to wait for slow customer service. | /aɪ dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪt fɔː sləʊ ˈkʌstəmə ˈsɜːvɪs/ | I feel unhappy about being obliged to wait for poor service. |
96 | He hated having to carry heavy luggage through the airport. | /hiː heɪtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ˈkæri ˈhɛvi ˈlʌɡɪdʒ θruː ði ˈeəpɔːt/ | He felt exhausted by being obliged to carry heavy luggage. |
97 | She enjoyed not having to wake up early on holidays. | /ʃiː ɪnˈdʒɔɪd nɒt ˈhævɪŋ tə weɪk ʌp ˈɜːli ɒn ˈhɒlɪdeɪz/ | She felt happy to be free from waking early during holidays. |
98 | They disliked having to work in uncomfortable conditions. | /ðeɪ dɪsˈlaɪkt ˈhævɪŋ tə wɜːk ɪn ʌnˈkʌmfətəbl kənˈdɪʃənz/ | They felt unhappy about being obliged to work in tough conditions. |
99 | He avoided having to explain complicated procedures. | /hiː əˈvɔɪdɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə ɪkˈspleɪn ˈkɒmplɪkeɪtɪd prəˈsiːʤəz/ | He escaped the duty of explaining complex procedures. |
100 | She regretted having to sell her old books. | /ʃiː rɪˈɡrɛtɪd ˈhævɪŋ tə sɛl hɜːr əʊld bʊks/ | She felt sad about being obliged to sell her old books. |
Conclusion
The phrase “Having to” is an essential part of English grammar that expresses necessity, obligation, or the experience of being forced to do something. Unlike words such as must or need to, which indicate strong or practical requirements, “having to” focuses on the experience, often highlighting discomfort, frustration, or inconvenience associated with the obligation.
By learning to use “having to” correctly, you can:
- Express obligations naturally in both spoken and written English.
- Communicate feelings about duties, tasks, or responsibilities.
- Differentiate subtle meanings between obligation (must), necessity (need to), and personal experience (having to).
Practising with examples, as we have provided, helps you speak and write English more fluently, making your sentences sound natural and precise. Understanding and applying “having to” in daily life will improve both your conversational skills and written expression, enabling you to convey nuances of obligation and experience effectively.
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