Meaning
Expresses necessity or obligation. It is often translated as 'must' or 'have to'.
Formation
- Drop い from the ない form and add ければ + なりません: 練習しなければなりません
- Colloquial contractions: なければ → なきゃ, なくては → なくちゃ
When to use it
- Core use
- Must, have to
Example
毎日漢字を練習しなければなりません
I must practice kanji every day.
Important notes
- Pay attention to the word form before the construction and to the particles around it.
Common mistakes
- Do not translate the pattern word for word; first identify its function in the whole situation.