なくてはいけない
Meanings
- must do
- have to do
- it's necessary to do
About this pattern
Explanation
なくてはいけない expresses obligation or necessity: you must do something, or it is required. It is more formal and stronger than 〜たい/〜ほうがいい. Use it to describe duties, rules, or things you are required to do. The form changes slightly depending on the part of speech: verbs take the negative ない form plus なくてはいけない; i-adjectives use the なくてはいけない form; na-adjectives and nouns use でなくてはいけない. In casual speech, people often say なくちゃいけない or じゃなきゃいけない, but なくてはいけない is more formal. Example contexts include school assignments, work tasks, rules, or personal obligations.
Learn in context
Example sentences
I have to submit the report by tomorrow.
I must wake up early today.
This room must be quiet.
I have to read this book.
It's not that you must have money, but you need to prepare for the trip.
Keep studying
More N5 patterns
to be; is; equals; identifies as
View detailsto be; is; am; used to state something politely
View detailsAs for... (highlights sentence topic); Topic marker used to indicate what the sentence is about; Marks the topic of the sentence, sometimes with contrast
View detailsalso; too; as well; even; either; neither
View detailsthis (near the speaker); this thing; this one
View detailsthat; that thing (near the listener); the thing referred to earlier
View details