Must or Have

Question

"Tengo que ir al médico"

I have to go to the doctor

or

I must go to the doctor

(?)

What's the difference?

Answer 1

In my opinion, 'I have to go to the doctors' indicates a pressing need. I have to go to the doctors because I'm really sick.

However, 'I must go to the doctors' isn't quite as desperate. I must remember to have my cough checked out to make sure it isn't serious.

To be honest though, there isn't much difference between the two and I think they could be used interchangeably .

Hope this helps!

Thank you. I allways used HAVE, and now, I will use must too. - santihp, May 19, 2010

Answer 2

I'm gonna say something in spanish and i know you can understand it much better. ambas palabras expresan necesidad u obligacion pero must es un auxiliar y have to se conjuga como (have).como tu oracion "i have to go to the doctor" es imperativo por que por obligacion tienes que hacerlo y" I must go the doctor" es dicho como que lo haras pero no es una obligacion.Have tu puedes usarlo en presente "have"o has para terceras personas,pasado "had to" y futuro will have y puedes hacer PREGUNTAS y con must tu no puedes hacer eso,como dije es solo un auxiliar que dice tengo.Espero te ayude

Answer 3

"I have to go to the doctor" is used more commonly. Another way to say it is "I need to see a doctor."

Answer 4

Both express obligation but to different degrees. You would be understood if used either one.

Answer 5

I use them interchangeably. They both indicate that there is a need for something to be done - sooner or later. lol