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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar
Must / have to in reported speech
Hello!
I encountered a problem while I was studying reported speech.
The question is to change this sentence, "He said to me, "He must be a liar."" into a reported sentence.
I thought "He told me that he had to be a liar." is correct.
However, the answer is not "had to be", but "must" since in this case must refers to probability, not obligation so it cannot be changed.
I wanted more information so I read Practical English Usage by Swan and found "must" has to be used. However, I still feel that I have faced many sentences using "had to" when they refer to "probability."
Can't I use "had to be a liar" instead of "must be a liar"?
Thank you.
Andy.
I encountered a problem while I was studying reported speech.
The question is to change this sentence, "He said to me, "He must be a liar."" into a reported sentence.
I thought "He told me that he had to be a liar." is correct.
However, the answer is not "had to be", but "must" since in this case must refers to probability, not obligation so it cannot be changed.
I wanted more information so I read Practical English Usage by Swan and found "must" has to be used. However, I still feel that I have faced many sentences using "had to" when they refer to "probability."
Can't I use "had to be a liar" instead of "must be a liar"?
Thank you.
Andy.
Top answer
I would prefer must in your sentence but I do know that had to is used by many natives instead. I don't think there is agreement on this. Usage of verb forms is sometimes quite confusing in English.
- I would prefer must in your sentence but I do know that had to is used by many natives instead.
- I don't think there is agreement on this.
- Usage of verb forms is sometimes quite confusing in English.
- In grammar books intended for foreign learners must is usually considered the better option, and, as you say, Swan seems to agree.
- CB
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1 Answers
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I would prefer must in your sentence but I do know that had to is used by many natives instead. I don't think there is agreement on this. Usage of verb forms is sometimes quite confusing in English. In grammar books intended for foreign learners must is usually considered the better option, and, as you say, Swan seems to agree.
CB
CB
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