I got confused by this...

Question

i've just read a book. I saw thisI had to see her.Shouldn't this setence be "I have to see her"?What's the difference in meaning betweenI have to see her.I had to see her.

Avangi · Accepted Answer

Present tense vs. past tense:

I have to see her today.
I had to see her yesterday.

Sometimes in novels the tenses get shifted around during a narrative, and it takes a little getting used to.

Best wishes, - A.

Lokon · Answer

I also wonder why we use was when pretend something, I mean like this
If I was a boy -- the song name

Why not "If I'm a boy" ?

Avangi · Answer

I've been on the site for three years and I still don't know all the rules about "conditional" sentences.

Your version would work (present tense) in a couple of situations: historical present, and habitual behavior.

I was getting desperate, so I walk into this house, and there's this party going on.
If I'm a boy, I say "xxxxx," right? But since I'm a girl, I say "yyyy." (a bit casual)

In general, the present tense would be, "If I were a boy, I'd punch you in the nose."

"Were" is subjunctive mood, used in many weird cases like this.

In "modern English," we allow the substitution of "was," because people consider "were" old fashioned.
I have no idea what tense "was" is in this case.

I know a much older song from the 40's or 50's: If I Were A Bell .

Lokon · Answer

Oh. I think I got it. Thanks

Avangi · Answer

You could also ask a question in the simple present: If I'm a boy, what should I say?
(Maybe you're on the telephone, or the internet.)

I think that in formal English, it would be better to use the subjunctive: If I were a boy, what would I say?

I got confused by this...

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