Japanese Grammar: Expressing "Must" or "Have to" 「…だめ」「…いけない」「…ならない」
Before starting the exercise for Expressing "Must" or "Have to" 「...だめ」「...いけない」「...ならない」, please clarify any doubts you may have about the grammatical rules by referring to your grammar guidebook or dictionary. The Instantaneous Composition Method requires you to compose sentences with the target sentence pattern(s) over and over in order to use them almost effortlessly. You should already have the necessary knowledge.
Instantaneous Composition Exercise for Expressing "Must" or "Have to" 「...だめ」「...いけない」「...ならない」
This is not a translation exercise. This is the Instantaneous Composition Exercise. As if a reflexive action, try to create an equivalent Japanese sentence shortly after reading an English script. Try not to think for more than three seconds.
Natural Speed with Pauses
English and Hidden Japanese Scripts
(Casual) As for greetings, (you) have to do (it).
挨拶はしないとだめです。
(Casual) (I) must meet (my) teacher today.
今日は先生に会わないとだめです。
(Casual) (You) must not die.
死んではだめです。
(Neutral) (You) have to sit down on the chair.
椅子に座らないといけません。
(Neutral) (You) must decide (it) alone.
一人で決めなくてはいけません。
(Neutral) (You) must not enter here.
ここに入ってはいけません。
(Neutral) (You) must not stand up now.
今立ってはいけません。
(Formal) (You) have to speak English.
英語を話さなければなりません。
(Formal) (You) have to come to the school every day.
毎日学校に来なければなりません。
(Formal) (You) must not break things.
物を壊してはなりません。
Note
We have defined the formality as “だめ (casual) < いけない (neutral) < and ならない (formal).” ならない is generally used in writing, thus you should use だめ and いけない in conversation, including business situations. In Genki, you learned しなきゃいけない. This is not wrong, however, しないといけない is more common.
