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THE MODAL VERBS OF OBLIGATION

We can use have to + infinitivemust + infinitive and should + infinitive to express obligation (something you have to do).
Present
Positive
Negative
have to /
don't have to
strong obligation (possibly from outside)
-Children have to go to school.
(sometimes 'have got to')
no obligation
-I don't have to work on Sundays.
-You don't have to eat anything you don't like.
must / mustn't
strong obligation (possibly based on the speaker's opinion)
-I must study today.
negative obligation
-You mustn't smoke here.
should / shouldn't
mild obligation or advice
-You should save some money.
mild negative obligation or advice
-You shouldn't smoke so much.
Be careful about the difference between mustn't and don't have to!
Mustn't means it's not allowed, or it's a bad idea:
-You mustn't eat so much chocolate, you'll be sick
Don't have to means you don't need to do something, but it's fine if you want to do it:
I don't have to get up early at the weekend (of course, if I want to get up early, that's fine, but I can stay in bed if I want).
Past
Positive
Negative
had to / didn't have to
obligation in the past
-I had to wear a school uniform when I was a child.
no obligation in the past
-We didn't have to go to school on Saturdays.
must*
changes to 'had to'
-
should have + pp / shouldn't have + pp
a past action which didn't happen: the advice / regret is too late
-You should have gone to bed earlier, now you have missed the train.
a past action which didn't happen: the advice / regret is too late
-You shouldn't have taken that job., it was a bad idea.

* Remember 'must have done' is a modal verb of deduction or speculation, not obligation in the past. For example: Julie must have left. Her coat's not here. 

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