0
Pleasehelp Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Had to/have to

I'm getting confused with:

I didn't know I had to stay up all night before I go to the stupid sleep cllinic! I'm so tired!

I didn't know I have to stay up all night before I go to the stupid sleep clinic! I'm so tired!

What's the difference between these two sentences? Don't they mean the same things. Please explain, thank you.

Since I haven't gone to the clinic yet shouldn't it be have to and not had to? But the person who said it used had.
  

Top answer

Are there any examples where we mix and match present tense, past tense, or even future tenses? I think I've recently heard some and it's messing my logic up. Or ppl around me were just not speaking proper English?

— Pleasehelp

  • Are there any examples where we mix and match present tense, past tense, or even future tenses?
  • I think I've recently heard some and it's messing my logic up.
  • Or ppl around me were just not speaking proper English?
Free · every Monday

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.

11 Answers
0
Are there any examples where we mix and match present tense, past tense, or even future tenses?

I think I've recently heard some and it's messing my logic up. Or ppl around me were just not speaking proper English?
0
0
I'll give you my opinion

I didn't know I would have to stay up....

Since 'would have to stay up' always refers to a time later than 'didn't know' so basically it refers to the future.

Whether you've been to the clinic or not you can still say this sentence or at least I think so. But If you haven't already been there why the 'I'm so tired part?
0
0
pleasehelpI didn't know I have to stay up all night before I go to the stupid sleep clinic! I'm so tired!


Since didn't could be used as a modal shouldn't have be in its base form? Even I know this whole sentence is in the past tense. Or does the noun 'I' have to do something with it?
0
0
pleasehelpI didn't know I have to stay up all night before I go to the stupid sleep clinic! I'm so tired!


Since didn't could be used as a modal shouldn't have be in its base form? Even I know this whole sentence is in the past tense. Or does the noun 'I' have something to do with it?
0
0
PH, I think that 'had' is possible only if both 'didn't know' and 'had' refer to the same time. In any other case, 'had' would not be possible. But, from the context it clear they don't refer to the same time (staying up happens later) so I think 'had' as used here is incorrect.
0
0
But didn't is in the past tense so I think had is the correct answer.

I didn't know I had to....
0
0
I know I could say "I know I have to" ('have to' can refer to the future so following that line of thinking 'had' indeed seems correct). But if you haven't been to the clinic yet then I think 'would have to' be the correct verb form.
0
0
IvanhrPH, I think that 'had' is possible only if both 'didn't know' and 'had' refer to the same time. In any other case, 'had' would not be possible. But, from the context it clear they don't refer to the same time (staying up happens later) so I think 'had' as used here is incorrect.

The English grammar rule is when it's int he past tense it stays i
0
0
Are you saying this is wrong?

I didn't know I would have to stay up all night before I go to the stupid sleep cllinic! (if I haven't been to the clinic yet)
0
0
Please wait for the experts.
0

Related Questions