Let me tell you about my friend Tom and our different situations at school. At our school, we have to wear a uniform every day. This is not my choice – I have to follow the rules. The teachers say we must look neat and clean. But Tom goes to a different school. He doesn’t have to wear a uniform. He can wear normal clothes!

Last week, Tom said to me, ‘I must study more for the science test.’ I asked him if the teacher told him to study more. He said, ‘No, I just really want to get a good grade!’ This was different from me – I have to study because my mom makes me.

At lunch time, we don’t have to sit in special places. We can choose where to sit. But we must clean our tables after we eat. The teacher says, ‘You must put all trash in the bins.’ Tom’s school is different. They have to sit at the same tables every day.

At home, I have to do my homework right after school. This is my mom’s rule. But Tom doesn’t have to do this. He can play first if he wants to. Yesterday he said, ‘I must finish this game!’ I asked if his parents said this. He said, ‘No, I just really want to!’

So now I understand better. When I say ‘I have to’ do something, it means someone else makes the rules. When Tom says ‘I must’ do something, sometimes it’s because he wants to, not because someone says so. It’s funny how words can mean different things!