MUST, HAVE TO AND NEED TO

Indicate OBLIGATION. They have the same meaning.

You must be very careful.They have to prepare dinner.The team needs to have all their stuff ready for tomorrow.

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When we use them in negative form, their meaning is different.

Dont have to, dont need to and neednt indicate lack of obligation. So, it means that it is not necessary.

You dont have to arrive before 9.You neednt worry about me.She doesnt need to do it.

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YOU NEEDNT DO IT.NEEDNT is followed by infinitive without TO.

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YOU MUSTNT SMOKE HERE.

MUSTNT means you are not allowedto do something. So, it means it is PROHIBITED.

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I couldnt go because I HAD TO help my brother with his homework.

MUST has no past form. You use HAD TOor NEEDED TO as Past Form.

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You didnt have to come if you couldnt.You didnt need to do it if you felt bad.

To talk about lack of obligation in the Past we use:

DIDNT NEED TO or DIDNT HAVE TO

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I NEED TO GO ON HOLIDAY.I NEED SOME HOLIDAYS.

Difference NEED TO and NEED NEED TO + VERB NEED + NOUN PHRASE

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PRESENT

MUSTHAVE TONEED TOOBLIGATIONDONT HAVE TODONT NEED TONEEDNTLACK OF OBLIGATIONMUSTNT PROHIBITION

PAST

HAD TONEEDED TOOBLIGATIONDIDNT HAVE TODIDNT NEED TOLACK OF OBLIGATION

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