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Anonymous Posted 15 years ago
Grammar
Have not had to
Hi,
"They have had a tough start, something they have not had to contend with too many times during Wenger's reign,and it will be interesting to see how they cope." [From the BBC web site.]
I've found, for the first time, the construction "have not have to-infinitive " and wonder whether such wording is grammatical. I think that the "didn't have to contend with" should be here instead of that "have not had to contend with". Is such a "have not have to-infinitive " acceptable?
Thank you.
"They have had a tough start, something they have not had to contend with too many times during Wenger's reign,and it will be interesting to see how they cope." [From the BBC web site.]
I've found, for the first time, the construction "have not have to-infinitive " and wonder whether such wording is grammatical. I think that the "didn't have to contend with" should be here instead of that "have not had to contend with". Is such a "have not have to-infinitive " acceptable?
Thank you.
Top answer
" In your particular example, the first "have" is part of the perfect tense. " I have to go. ) I do not have to go.
- " In your particular example, the first "have" is part of the perfect tense.
- " I have to go.
- ) I do not have to go.
- I had to go.
- (simple past) I did not have to go.
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2 Answers
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Anonymoussomething they have not had to contend withI'd describe the construction as "to not have to do something."
In your particular example, the first "have" is part of the perfect tense.
The second one is part of the common idiom, "to have to do something," or "to be obliged to do something."
I have to go. (I am obliged to g
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Thanks a lot, yes, it's the present perfect. I didn't spot that; it's as simple as that.
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