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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Had to
Hi
I am wondering how to use 'had to'? Is it conditional? For instance: He simply had to say yes, and the people would believe him. (1) (or) He simply had to say yes, and the people would have believed him.(2)
This is my understanding: Though both sentences are in the past tense, only (1) describes what might happen if the person were to say yes. It relates to a possible future from a past tense perspective (hence 'would' instead of 'would have'). (2), on the other hand, relates to an event that has ALREADY occurred and which is now being related to us in the past tense (hence 'would have' instead of 'would').
Is that correct?
I am wondering how to use 'had to'? Is it conditional? For instance: He simply had to say yes, and the people would believe him. (1) (or) He simply had to say yes, and the people would have believed him.(2)
This is my understanding: Though both sentences are in the past tense, only (1) describes what might happen if the person were to say yes. It relates to a possible future from a past tense perspective (hence 'would' instead of 'would have'). (2), on the other hand, relates to an event that has ALREADY occurred and which is now being related to us in the past tense (hence 'would have' instead of 'would').
Is that correct?
Top answer
Hi Anon: "Had" + infinitive is not conditional. Here are some examples of simple statements: I had to go. (past) I have to go now.
- Hi Anon: "Had" + infinitive is not conditional.
- Here are some examples of simple statements: I had to go.
- (past) I have to go now.
- (present) She had to leave early.
- She has to leave early on Friday.
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2 Answers
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Hi Anon:
"Had" + infinitive is not conditional.
Here are some examples of simple statements:
I had to go. (past)
I have to go now. (present)
She had to leave early.
She has to leave early on Friday.
She had to drive faster to make up lost time.
"Had" + infinitive is not conditional.
Here are some examples of simple statements:
I had to go. (past)
I have to go now. (present)
She had to leave early.
She has to leave early on Friday.
She had to drive faster to make up lost time.
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AnonymousI am wondering how to use 'had to'? Is it conditional? For instance: He simply had to say yes, and the people would believe him.This is not exactly a conditional -- certainly not an unreal conditional anyway.
This is "habitual would". Every time he said yes, the people believed him. / All he had to do was say yes, and t
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