Gramar help

Question

I was talking to a friend about his last semester and I wanted to ask him

me: you guys did have/had to do chapter 14?

I didn't know rather to use have or had and I'm always confused if I should used past tense when I use "did" in a sentence.

Thanks

Arvsworld · Accepted Answer

You: Did you guys have to study Chapter 14?

Your friend: Yes, we had to study Chapter 14?

I hope this helps.

-Arvin

Nef · Answer

MountainI was talking to a friend about his last semester and I wanted to ask him

me: you guys did have/had to do chapter 14?

I didn't know rather to use have or had and I'm always confused if I should used past tense when I use "did" in a sentence.

Thanks

(grammar)

You can say

1. Did you guys have to do Chapter 14? or

2. You guys did have to do Chapter 14?

I like the first choice better unless you are already pretty sure that the answer is yes, they did have to do that chapter. Then # 2 would be very appropriate (and the speaker could emphasize "did").

As you know, English has MANY exceptions to rules. But very often "did" alone meets the requirements of past tense. And "did" can combine with other verbs in the present tense and still express the past.

Do they have to do it? (now)

Did they have to do it? (in the past)

-------------------------------------

Do they need it? (now)

Did they need it? (in the past)

same idea

Mountain · Answer

I apologize but what I meant was "didn't" not "did". Back to the question:

Can I say " You guys didn't have to do chapter 14?" Past tense, correct?

Arvsworld · Answer

If you are using the word "did", then you already are using the past tense. Did is the past tense of do.

"Did you guys had to..." is not correct.

"Did you guys have to..." is correct.

But the word do is often used in speech these days to replace several other words or phrases. It shrinks our vocabulary and it's not always specific or clear.

Did you guys study Chapter 15? Did you guys discuss Chapter 15? Did you guys summarize Chapter 15? Did you guys recite Chapter 15? Did you guys burn Chapter 15? Did you guys shred Chapter 15? There are many other words or phrases which are more specific, but these days, people would just say: Did you guys do Chapter 15?

Maybe it's just me, but I'd rather use words that closer describe what I say.

-A

Arvsworld · Answer

As a question, it should be: Didn't you guys have to do Chapter 14?

As a statement, it could be: You guys didn't have to do Chapter 14.

But yes, I can see how the statement can be made to sound like a question. All you have to do is raise the pitch of your voice as you say "14". That will make it sound like a question, and this kind of speech is very common. But as you can see, it looks incorrect in writing.

Mountain · Answer

Thank you guys have solved my question and I have been wanted to ask this in ages but too lazy to do so.

Mountain · Answer

Ok, I have one more question as I just stumpled upon it. When I was asking what my friend computer spec was "what specs does your sony have/has?" I think it should be "has" but please correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks

BarbaraPA · Answer

When you includes the "does," you use "have."

It has these specs, but it does have those specs.

What specs does it have?

Mountain · Answer

Thank you for your prompt reply and it really helped me.

Clive · Answer

Hi,

"what specs does your sony have?" It would be more natural to say 'What are the specs for your Sony?'

The basic structure is 'you specify something [for something]'.

However, it still doesn't seem like a totally natural question, probably because it is rather general. What kind of answer would you expect?

If you are interested in some particular feature of the specs, I think you'd ask more specifically about that.

Best wishes, Clive

Gramar help

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions