Should or Have to

I'm going to bed early because I should get up early tomorrow.

Consider the following examples:

As a teacher I have to [1] get up early on work days because I have to [2] be in class at 8 o'clock. I drive to work, although I should [3] probably use a motorcycle, which is faster and more convenient in Bali.

When I was a musician I didn't have to [4] get up early, but I had to [5] be on stage most evenings at 8 o'clock. I had to [6] drive to gigs because I had to [7] carry many drums. I know what you're thinking - I should've[8] chosen a smaller instrument like the violin. Yes, but then I would have had to [9] play the violin!

In which situations did I have a choice? (show)

In which situations did I NOT have a choice? (show)

Complete the rule

In the present:

  • we use 1 to talk about situations when it is a good idea to do something, but we have a choice. (We probably don't do it!)
  • we use 2 to talk about situations when we have NO choice. (We do it, even if we don't want to!)

In the past:

  • we use 3 to talk about situations when it was good idea to do something, but we had a choice. (We probably didn't do it!)
  • we use 4 to talk about situations when we had NO choice. (We did it, even if we did't want to!)