have to study/will have to study

English as a Second Language English Vocabulary, Grammar and Idioms
1
  1. I have to study Chinese at school next year.
  2. I will have to study Chinese at school next year.

Do they have the same meaning? Thanks.

2

Pretty much, yes. Just a change in emphasis.

3

Could you tell me where the emphasis is put on #1 and #2?
In #1, we use simple present to talk about the scheduled event in the near future. Is that correct?

4

You can stress any word you like in your sentences. At the risk of stating the obvious, I have to tell you that it very much depends on what you want to emphasise.

5

Hi Screen,
There is a very long and contentious thread about ‘have to’ vs ‘will have to’ on this forum: english-test.net/forum/ftopic789.html
That thread may or may not help you. It’s a very long thread, but basically the main point of contention is the fact that the writer of the test felt that ‘will have to’ was an incorrect choice in the test sentence, but many others disagreed and said that either ‘have to’ or ‘will have to’ could be used.

In the specific context of your sentence, my sense is that if you use ‘I have to study…’ then possibly taking a course in Chinese (next year) has already been decided on or mandated (and also possibly already scheduled). If you use ‘I will have to study…’, then this could possibly be something you would use at the moment you decide to take a course in Chinese.

[color=darkblue]___________________________________
[size=75]“The highest result of education is tolerance.” ~ Helen Keller[/size]

6

Thank you. That thread is really interesting.