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In German, you can express a strict obligation or duty using the verb **haben** combined with **zu** and an infinitive. This structure is similar to "have to" in English but feels slightly more formal and rigid than simply using *müssen* (must), making it perfect for official protocols or rules—like managing a zoo.

### The "haben zu" Structure

To form an active obligation, conjugate **haben** in the second position of the sentence, and place **zu** directly before the infinitive at the very end of the clause.

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### Establishing Strict Boundaries

Because this grammar pattern emphasizes absolute rules, it is frequently paired with limiting words like **niemand** (no one) or **nur** (only) to dictate exactly who is or isn't authorized to perform an action.

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### Separable Verbs

If the required action involves a separable verb, the **zu** does not stand alone. Instead, it gets wedged directly between the prefix and the main verb root, combining into a single word. 

For example, the verb **einhalten** (to adhere to / to maintain) becomes **einzuhalten**.

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### More Examples

Here are a few more examples of strict animal care protocols in action:

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Active obligation (haben zu)

adjective

adverb

auxiliary verb

conjunction

determiner

interjection

noun

numeral

particle

preposition

pronoun

sentence

verb

Definite articles and gender (der, die, das)

Indefinite articles (ein, eine)

Regular verbs and statement word order (ich -e, er -t)

The second person (du -st, Sie -en)

Yes/No questions

The verb 'to have' (habe, hast, hat)

Plural pronouns and regular verbs (wir, ihr, sie)

Plural 'to be' and 'to have' (sind, haben)

Plural nouns and the plural article (die)

Sentence negation (nicht)

Noun negation (kein, keine)

Question words (wer, was, wo, wie)

Numbers 0 to 12 (null, eins, zwei)

The accusative case (den, die, das)

Indefinite accusative articles (einen, keinen)

Direct object pronouns (mich, dich, ihn)

There is / there are (es gibt)

Vowel changes: e to i/ie (er spricht, sie liest)

Vowel changes: a to ä (er fährt)

Weather and conditions (es regnet)

First- and second-person possessives in the nominative (mein, dein, Ihr)

First- and second-person possessives in the accusative (meinen, deinen, Ihren)

Third-person and plural possessives (sein, ihr, unser, euer)

Possession with names (Annas Auto)

Demonstrative pronouns (dieser, diese, dieses)

Expressing preference (gern, lieber)

Asking about direction and origin (woher, wohin)

Expressing ability (können)

Polite requests (möchten)

Expressing intention (wollen)

Modal verbs of obligation and permission (müssen, dürfen)

Separable prefix verbs

Adverbs of frequency (immer, oft, manchmal, nie)

The Dative case and definite articles (dem, der, den)

Dative indefinite and negative articles (einem, einer, keinem)

Dative personal pronouns (mir, dir, ihm, ihr...)

Dative verbs (helfen, danken, gefallen, schmecken)

Dative prepositions (aus, bei, mit, nach...)

Accusative prepositions (für, ohne, gegen)

Two-way prepositions for location (in, an, auf...)

Informal singular imperative (mach, komm)

Plural and formal imperative (macht, machen Sie)

Coordinating conjunctions (und, oder, aber, denn)

Simple past of sein and haben (war, hatte)

The perfect tense: regular verbs (gemacht, gespielt)

Past tense: irregular verbs (ge-...-en)

The perfect tense: mixed verbs (gebracht, gekannt)

The perfect tense with sein (ist gegangen)

The perfect tense: separable verbs (eingekauft)

The perfect tense: inseparable and -ieren verbs (besucht, studiert)

Informal singular commands (mach, lern)

Numbers 13 to 20 (dreizehn to zwanzig)

Counting by tens to 100 (dreißig, vierzig)

Telling time (Uhr, halb, Viertel, vor, nach)

Numbers 21 to 99 (einundzwanzig, zweiunddreißig)

Greetings and farewells

Thank you, sorry and good wishes

Everyday replies

Numbers 100 to 1,000,000 (hundert, tausend...)

Becoming and getting (werden)

The impersonal pronoun (man)

Indefinite pronouns (jemand, niemand...)

Time sequence prepositions (vor, nach, bei)

Time span prepositions (von... bis, seit, für)

Adverbs of sequence (zuerst, dann, danach)

Two-way prepositions for direction (in, auf, an...)

Directional adverbs (hin, her)

Placement verbs (setzen, stellen, legen)

Months of the year (Januar, Februar)

The four seasons (Frühling, Sommer)

Time prepositions and indefinite pronouns (an, in, um)

Ordinal numbers 1st to 19th (am ersten)

Ordinals 20th and beyond (-ste, -sten)

Placement vs. location verbs (stellen vs. stehen)

Accusative reflexive pronouns (mich, dich, sich)

Accusative reflexive verbs (sich freuen)

Dative reflexive pronouns (mir, dir, sich)

Dative reflexive verbs (sich etwas merken)

Ordinal numbers 11th to 19th (-te)

Temporal prepositions (an, in, um)

Double objects with nouns

Double objects with pronouns

The modal verb for advice (sollen)

Simple past of modal verbs (musste, wollte...)

Simple past of common irregulars (wurde, wusste, es gab)

Adverbial connectors of consequence (deshalb, darum...)

Subordinate clauses for statements (dass)

Question	Answer
the zookeeper	der Tierpfleger
The zookeeper has to clean the cage every day.	Der Tierpfleger hat den Käfig jeden Tag zu reinigen.
the enclosure	das Gehege
The zookeepers have to lock the enclosure.	Die Tierpfleger haben das Gehege zu verriegeln.
We have to clean the enclosure with the brush.	Wir haben das Gehege mit der Bürste zu reinigen.
the predator	das Raubtier
We have to feed the predator immediately.	Wir haben das Raubtier sofort zu füttern.
the symptom	das Symptom
to document	dokumentieren
Both the zookeeper and the vet have to document the symptoms.	Sowohl der Tierpfleger als auch der Tierarzt haben die Symptome zu dokumentieren.
to enter	betreten
No one is to enter the enclosure without permission.	Niemand hat das Gehege ohne die Erlaubnis zu betreten.
Only the zookeeper is to enter the cage.	Nur der Tierpfleger hat den Käfig zu betreten.
the distance (gap, space between)	der Abstand
to adhere to	einhalten
The visitor has to maintain the distance to the predator.	Der Besucher hat den Abstand zum Raubtier einzuhalten.
You have to maintain the distance.	Sie haben den Abstand einzuhalten.
The zookeepers have to strictly follow the protocol.	Die Tierpfleger haben das Protokoll streng einzuhalten.
to report	melden
We have to report every symptom immediately.	Wir haben jedes Symptom sofort zu melden.
The cage was cleaned, however you have to report the symptoms.	Der Käfig war gereinigt, jedoch haben Sie die Symptome zu melden.
The vet has to document the symptoms.	Der Tierarzt hat die Symptome zu dokumentieren.
You have to document the meals of the predator.	Ihr habt die Mahlzeiten vom Raubtier zu dokumentieren.
the quarantine	die Quarantäne
The zookeeper has to bring the sick animal into quarantine.	Der Tierpfleger hat das kranke Tier in die Quarantäne zu bringen.
The enclosure was locked, however we have to check the predator.	Das Gehege war verriegelt, jedoch haben wir das Raubtier zu kontrollieren.
The animal has to stay in the quarantine.	Das Tier hat in der Quarantäne zu bleiben.