Have/ had to be doing
When I am/ was doing something which I am/ was compelled to do (continuous tense), I guess, it's not right to say-
I have to/ had to be doing.
E.g.
-What are doing, are you busy?
-I'm cleaning my house now. My cleaning lady hasn't turned up. (I'm doing it only out of obligation)
''I've to be cleaning", I guess, doesn't work here.
How should I say it, then??
And also,does have/ had to be doing mean something??
Please help...
Top answer
]. It's grammatical to use the continuous infinitive as shown above, but it seems to me that it is hardly ever used. Almost all obligations are obligations to get the task done, not obligations to be in the middle of doing that activity at some future point in time.
- ].
- It's grammatical to use the continuous infinitive as shown above, but it seems to me that it is hardly ever used.
- Almost all obligations are obligations to get the task done, not obligations to be in the middle of doing that activity at some future point in time.
- CJ
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These are OK: I [have/had] to be [doing something / cleaning the house / ...].
It's grammatical to use the continuous infinitive as shown above, but it seems to me that it is hardly ever used. Almost all obligations are obligations to get the task done, not obligations to be in the middle of doing that activity at some future point in time.
CJ
0
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