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.

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.

NEEDNT is followed by infinitive

without TO.
YOU NEEDNT DO IT.

MUSTNT means you are not allowed

to do something.
So, it means it is PROHIBITED.
YOU MUSTNT SMOKE HERE.

MUST has no past form.

You use HAD TO
or NEEDED TO as Past Form.
I couldnt go because I HAD TO help
my brother with his homework.

To talk about lack of obligation in the Past

we use:
DIDNT NEED TO or DIDNT HAVE TO
You didnt have to come if you couldnt.
You didnt need to do it if you felt bad.

fference NEED TO and NEED

NEED TO + VERB
NEED + NOUN PHRASE
I NEED TO GO ON HOLIDAY.
I NEED SOME HOLIDAYS.

PRESENT
MUST
HAVE TO
NEED TO
DONT HAVE TO
DONT NEED TO
NEEDNT
MUSTNT

OBLIGATION

LACK OF
OBLIGATION
PROHIBITION

PAST
HAD TO
NEEDED TO

OBLIGATION

DIDNT HAVE TO
DIDNT NEED TO

LACK OF
OBLIGATION