Please I need some help here. I am all in on learning to mimic how Japanese
speak and write as well as learning proper grammar. Just knowing vocal and
grammar will lead to unusual and unnatural speech, but sometimes I run into a
concept that really confuses me. This sentence is an example.

レポートを書かなければなりません。

I understand all the words in this sentence. I understand that it means, “I
have to write a report.” My problem is my head is having trouble wrapping
itself around WHY does it mean, “I have to write a report.”

When I see this sentence or sentences like it, my brain is torn in half trying
to parse it properly.

Can someone please take the time to explain to me how and why this sentence
and others like it communicate a requirement to do something?

[Origin of ~なければ
ならない](https://japanese.stackexchange.com/questions/11788/origin-
of-%E3%81%AA%E3%81%91%E3%82%8C%E3%81%B0-%E3%81%AA%E3%82%89%E3%81%AA%E3%81%84)
is a similar question, but it doesn't really ask why which is what I am
asking. Knowing it is so doesn't help me understand why it's so and how to
plug into my brain how to parse it without having to stop and deconstruct the
puzzle of it.
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2019-09-19T12:23:17.117
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2019-09-19T13:34:53.903
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question
grammar meaning syntax
レポートを書かなければなりません。
The components are:

書く - To write

書かない - Not to write

書かなければ - If I/you/etc. don't write

書かなければなりません - If you don't write it's not good

The literal meaning is something like "If you don't write it's not good", so
you must write.
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-09-19T13:10:24.023
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2019-09-19T13:10:24.023
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answer