Have to + Vbase

Question

How do I break this sentence down? "I have to go"

I (subject) have to (helping verb) go (main verb).
or
I (subject) have (transitive verb) to go (direct object in the infinitive form)
or
neither

Hoping for CJ's attention

thanks

Mister Micawber · Accepted Answer

...but you got mine. I say:

I (subject) have to (helping verb) go (main verb).

Anonymous · Answer

What a great question!

Sometimes have to behaves like an ordinary verb.

I need to go.
I want to go.
I have to go.

These sentences all have the structure Subject+Verb+Object where the object of the main verb is the infinitive to go.

Sometimes have to behaves like a modal verb.

Here's what I mean.

We can say:
What do you want?
I want to go.

However, we can't say:
*What do you have?
*I have to go.

We have to say:
What do you have to do?
I have to go.

In this case, have to behaves like a modal verb.

With a modal we can't say:

*What will you?

I'll go.

We have to say:

What will you do?
I'll go.

And that's the same structure as:
What to you have to do?
I have to go.

So how do we analyze a verb that sometimes behaves like a main verb and sometimes behaves like an auxiliary verb?

Simple.
We put it into a third class of verbs we call semi-modals or an idiomatic modals.

And an idiom is: A speech form or expression of a given language that is peculiar to itself grammatically....American Heritage Dictionary

And the answer is...
Don't break your head over this.
It is what it is.

The Linguist

Mister Micawber · Answer

I have to go.
These sentences all have the structure Subject+Verb+Object where the object of the main verb is the infinitive to go.
I don't believe so in that case, Anon. 'Have' is a main verb in these cases: I have a headache, I had lunch at noon, etc.

In fact, you refute yourself immediately afterward:

We can say:
What do you want?
I want to go.

However, we can't say:
*What do you have?
*I have to go.

Anonymous · Answer

Yup.
That would be my point.

The Linguist

Mister Micawber · Answer

Refuting yourself is your point? Please be aware that posts likely to confuse are liable to deletion.  If you wish to present arcanities, we have a [url=]LINGUISTIC DISCUSSION FORUM[/url], but most of our students here in the Grammar forums need simpler and clearer advice.

Lagataw · Answer

AnonymousWe put it into a third class of verbs we call semi-modals or an idiomatic modals.

Is "be supposed to" considered an idiomatic modal too?

Thanks for the new term byt the way.

Mister Micawber · Answer

Be supposed to is listed as a semi-auxiliary in A Comprehensive Grammar of the English Language, along with be able/about/apt/bound/due/going/likely/meant/obliged/willing to and have to.

(Geoffrey Leech in his own book on the English verb treats have (got) to as a primary modal auxiliary.)

Lagataw · Answer

Thank you very much.

That was generous.

Anonymous · Answer

Okay, Mr Micawber,

Let me try again.

To have to+base form of verb is an idiom.

It doesn't follow the "rules."
Sometimes it behaves like main verb + infinitive object.
ex. I have to go to the store.=I want to go to the store. (in structure)

Sometimes it behaves like modal auxiliary + main verb.
ex. What do you have to do? = What can you do? (in structure)*

(You say refute. I say point out the contradictions.)

Because have to (along with be going to and be supposed to) acts like a main verb some of the time and like an auxiliary verbs at other times it is placed in its own category called semi-modals or idiomatic modals.

(Is this arcane? I can't say for sure because I gave away all my textbooks when I quit teaching, but it seems to me that semi-modals are taught as such in many grammar books.)

I thought the question was quite sophisticated and indicated that the student was both interested in and capable of understanding the analysis.

(Were you, dear? I'm sorry I can't remember your name and if I navigate away from this page I'll lose what I've written.)

So what do you think, Mr M? Was that any clearer? Or is it still too detailed an analysis for this forum?

The Linguist and former ESL teacher

BTW, I'm not posting anonymously on purpose. I have registered with the site but I haven't filled out a profile. As far as I can tell, I have to get a reply from the forum first.

*Notice that with a main verb want we can say either
What do you want to do? or What do you want?

While with the modal can we say
What can you do? but not What can you?

(Okay, maybe we do, but it's very unusual and requires a lot of context.)

When we ask the same question using have to it behaves like a modal.
We say What do you have to do? but not What do you have?

(Of course What do you have? is a good English sentence, but it has an entirely different meaning from What do you have to do?)

Kooyeen · Answer

AnonymousBTW, I'm not posting anonymously on purpose. I have registered with the site but I haven't filled out a profile. As far as I can tell, I have to get a reply from the forum first.

I dont' think you need to wait long before you get the activation email... If you haven't received it, maybe there was some problem. Did you check your junk or spam box? If you have any problems, you can post in the "Help" section and an administrator will try to help you.
(PS: this should be the official thread for registration problems - )

Have to + Vbase

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