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I have had to work at the fountain for almost ten hours before it could start functioning well.

In the above sentence, there should be 'had to' only in place of 'have had to' according to my book.

As per my understanding, there is one action('I have had to work ...") happening before the other("could start functioning well"), shouldn't we use 'had had to work' instead?

Tamguatlay · Accepted Answer

I agree with you.

Fivejedjon · Answer

As the sequence of events is clear, the past perfect is not essential.

Nakool · Answer

Sorry, I am not able to comprehend your comments.

Laborious · Answer

NakoolIn the above sentence, there should be 'had to' only in place of 'have had to' according to my book.

Yes. The reason is that 'have had to work for ten years' doesn't work with 'before it could start functioning well' which means that the fountain was able to start functioning well, i.e., the action did happen in the past.. The fountain, in your example, started functioning well (at some point) in the past, but before that you had to work at it for almost ten years.

For instance, consider these examples:

- I have worked at the fountain for almost ten years before it could start functioning well*.
- I worked at the fountain for alomost ten years before it could start functioning well.

*The present perfect (I have worked...) doesn't work with the clause 'before it could start functioning well'. On the other hand, the past simple (I worked at the fountain...), in my second example above, does work with 'before it could start functioning well'. The situations (of the fountain's not working well and me working at it) both have finished in the past, and we very often use the past simple tense when describing the order of events in the past. Here, these two events are First-"I worked at the fountain for alomost ten years" and Second-"it (the fountain) started functioning well".

- I have had to walk to work since I sold my car. (present perfect + the meaning of 'have to' combined/merged)
~ So what? Don't forget that you had to do this everyday before you bought that car.

- I have had to meet my doctor twice this week. (there might be more meetings within this week).
- I had to meet my doctor twice this week. (The chances of my meeting the doctor in this week are nil, or perhaps the week is nearly finished.)

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