Tener que + infinitivo is the everyday way to express personal obligation — something a specific person has to do.
| yo | tú | él/ella/usted | nosotros | vosotros | ellos/ustedes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| tengo | tienes | tiene | tenemos | tenéis | tienen |
The formula never changes: tener (conjugated) + que + infinitivo.
Hay que + infinitivo expresses a general, impersonal obligation — "one has to…" or "you have to…" in general, without naming who.
Quick trick: if you can name who has the obligation, use tener que (tengo, tienes, tiene…). If the sentence is a general rule that applies to anyone, use hay que — it never conjugates.
Negating it: "no tener que" softens into "don't have to / don't need to" — it's not a strong prohibition, just the absence of obligation.
1.Esta noche ___ (tener que / estudiar) para el examen.
2.___ (tener) que llegar temprano mañana.
3.Tenemos ___ terminar el proyecto hoy. (missing connector word)
4.Mi hermano ___ (tener) que trabajar los sábados.
5.Choose the correct impersonal form: "___ estudiar para aprender un idioma."
6.True or false: "hay que" changes form depending on the subject, just like "tener que."
7.Ellos ___ (tener) que salir antes de las ocho.
8.Choose the phrase that means "I don't have to go if I don't want to":
9.¿Vosotros ___ (tener) que trabajar el domingo?
10.Choose the correct form: "Tienes que ___ (pagar) la cuenta antes de salir."
11.___ (yo, tener que) llamar al dentista hoy.
12.True or false: "hay que respetar las normas" is a general rule that applies to everyone.
Book a class with Ángel and talk about your real obligations and responsibilities.