Must as a reference to the past?
I've come across the use of "must" as a synonym of "had to" in a few short stories recently. How's that possible? As far as I know, the modal verb "must" relates to the present (future too, if you will) not the past.
The bit went something like this:
I seemed to be trapped; the gunman was approaching. I must do something quick.
Top answer
In the given example, the sentence with "must" is actually a present tense construction. It is not unusual for a writer to use the present tense in a past narrative, for effect. For example: When I was living in Paris, I'd go to a coffee house every morning and talk to people for several hours.
- In the given example, the sentence with "must" is actually a present tense construction.
- It is not unusual for a writer to use the present tense in a past narrative, for effect.
- For example: When I was living in Paris, I'd go to a coffee house every morning and talk to people for several hours.
- But I'm thinking: Why am I doing this?
- What do I accomplish by this?
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In the given example, the sentence with "must" is actually a present tense construction. It is not unusual for a writer to use the present tense in a past narrative, for effect. For example:
When I was living in Paris, I'd go to a coffee house every morning and talk to people for several hours. But I'm thinking: Why am I doing this? What do I accomplish by this?
0EyeSeeYouI've come across the use of "must" as a synonym of "had to" in a few short stories recently. How's that possible?
'must' is its own past. Hardly anyone uses it as a past tense form anymore, but it is possible. Nowadays I'd say it's a literary usage.
CJ
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