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Park sang joon Posted 10 years ago
Grammar
Be having to do something
This novel is set in a Chinese village before World War One.
The protagonist lives with his wife and father, his wife was a maid to so rich a family.
Much of this would be sold, but Wang Lung was frugal and he did not, like many of the villagers, spend his money freely at gambling or on foods too delicate for them, and so, like them, have to sell the grain at harvest when the price was low.
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His uncle was always having to sell his grain before it was even well ripened. Sometimes he even sold it standing in the field to save himself the trouble of harvesting and threshing to get a little ready cash.
<The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck>
I'd like to know what the structure "be having to do something" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
The protagonist lives with his wife and father, his wife was a maid to so rich a family.
Much of this would be sold, but Wang Lung was frugal and he did not, like many of the villagers, spend his money freely at gambling or on foods too delicate for them, and so, like them, have to sell the grain at harvest when the price was low.
.....................................................
His uncle was always having to sell his grain before it was even well ripened. Sometimes he even sold it standing in the field to save himself the trouble of harvesting and threshing to get a little ready cash.
<The Good Earth by Pearl S. Buck>
I'd like to know what the structure "be having to do something" means.
Thank you in advance for your help.
Top answer
park sang joon I'd like to know what the structure "be having to do something" means. As you probably know, 'was having to' is the past continuous form of the semi-modal "have to", which expresses obligation. "was always having to" expresses a repeated obligation in the past.
- park sang joon I'd like to know what the structure "be having to do something" means.
- As you probably know, 'was having to' is the past continuous form of the semi-modal "have to", which expresses obligation.
- "was always having to" expresses a repeated obligation in the past.
- Again and again his uncle had to sell his grain before it was really ready to be sold.
- Here's one in the present continuous: I'm very forgetful, so I'm always having to write down what I need to get at the grocery store.
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2 Answers
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park sang joonI'd like to know what the structure "be having to do something" means.As you probably know, 'was having to' is the past continuous form of the semi-modal "have to", which expresses obligation.
"was always having to" expresses a repeated obligation in the past. Again and again his uncle had to sell his grain before it was really ready t
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Thank you, CalifJim, for your enlightening me. 
I have forgotten the structure "someone is always doing."
I have forgotten the structure "someone is always doing."
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